schaden

Forms

schaden^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch scaden, inherited from Old Dutch skathon, inherited from Proto-Germanic *skaþōną, a weak verb formed on the noun Proto-Germanic *skaþô (“harm, damage”), the source of schade.^[2][1][3][4] The Middle Dutch dictionary allows that it may come from the agent noun “enemy, one who harms”, which the old Germanic languages also had, rather than from the noun for damage.^[5] The same verb is Old Saxon skathon, Old High German scadōn (modern German schaden), Old Frisian skathia, Old English sceaþian and Old Norse skaða.^[2][6][7] Wiktionary compares English scathe.^[1]

The noun was formed to an older strong verb, Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌸𐌾𐌰𐌽 (skaþjan, “to harm”), sceþþan, skeðja, which Kroonen reconstructs as Proto-Germanic *skaþjan-.^[2][7] Its further origin is unclear; the EWN thinks it probably related to an Old Irish verb meaning “to maim”, and Kroonen sets up a European root with Ancient Greek ἀσκηθής (askēthḗs, “unhurt”) and Old Irish scíth (“weary”).^[2][7][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Wachtendonck Psalms (10th century) scathan sal renders Latin damnabit “will condemn”, and the Old Dutch verb meant both “to harm” and “to condemn”.^[2][3] Middle Dutch scaden glosses Latin obesse “to be harmful” in a Limburg text of about 1240.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

In Middle Dutch the verb took a dative or an accusative, and could be reflexive; a construction with op (scaden op, 1278) followed the phrase scade doen op.^[4][5] Hail “harmed the corn far and wide” in a Flemish text of 1301.^[5] The derivatives schadigen (1388) and beschadigen (1407) followed.^[2]

From 1672 the verb is used without an object, “to do harm”, often against baten “to help”, as in the saying baat het niet, het schaadt niet (1726).^[9] It was borrowed into Negerhollands as skaad.^[10]

Timeline

• 901–1000 – Old Dutch scathan is recorded in the Wachtendonck Psalms.^[2][3]
• c. 1240 – Middle Dutch scaden is recorded in Limburg.^[2][4]
• 1278 – Scaden op “to harm” is recorded in Utrecht.^[4]
• 1388 – The derivative schadigen is recorded.^[2]
• 1672 – The absolute use “to do harm” is recorded.^[9]
• 1726 – The saying baat het niet, het schaadt niet is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Verb

1. To harm, damage: to do harm to someone or something.^[11][9][1]
2. (without an object) To do harm, be harmful.^[11][9]

Word family

• schadelijk
• schadigen
• beschadigen

Related words

• schade
• English scathe
• German schaden

Usage notes

Baat het niet, dan schaadt het niet “if it does no good, it does no harm” is said of an attempt whose use is doubtful, and overdaad schaadt “excess harms”.^[11][9]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
3. ^ a b c Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
4. ^ a b c d e Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
5. ^ a b c Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
6. ^ Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b c Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill
8. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 323
9. ^ a b c d e f Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
10. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
11. ^ a b c Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers