Etymologically
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veilig

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Forms

veilig (comparative veiliger, superlative veiligst)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch veilich, from Dutch veil + -ig: the suffix was added to Middle and Early Modern Dutch veil (“safe”), which had the same meaning and later fell out of use.[2][3][4] The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal compares droevig, another adjective in which the form with ⟨-ig⟩ pushed out the simple one.[4] The derivative is shared by Middle Low German vēlich and Old Frisian fēlig (modern West Frisian feilich); the simple adjective has a match only in Old English fǣle (“faithful, dear”), from Proto-Germanic *failia-.[2][5][6] The EWN thinks “safe, sheltered” was the first meaning, from which Old English reached “dear” when it was said of people.[2] Wiktionary reconstructs Proto-West Germanic *failī (“true, familiar, good”).[1]

The adjective meaning “safe” has a separate source from the one meaning “for sale”, although the two were later confused.[1] Its further origin is unsure.[2][5] Most scholars derive it from the root Proto-Indo-European *peh₂- (“to protect, to tend cattle”) of voeren “to line”, and Franck and Van Wijk compare Ancient Greek ποιμήν (poimḗn, “shepherd”), Lithuanian piemuõ (“shepherd”) and Sanskrit पायु (pāyú, “protector”), but the EWN points out that the Germanic ⟨l⟩ suffix is unusual.[2][6][7] De Vries finds this etymology unsatisfying and rejects any link with Latin pius (“pious”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The EWN's first record is from 1313: merchants may veilich land, travel and return, that is “without danger”.[2] Derivatives followed in Middle Dutch: the verb veiligen “to give safe conduct” in 1348 and the noun veiligheden in 1357.[2] The Chronologisch woordenboek gives 1401–1423.[8]

Semantic evolution

In Middle Dutch the adjective was said of people who need fear no harm and of places, roads and seas where none threatened;[9] Kiliaan gives veyligh land and veylighe zee.[9] It was long a northern word: the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal notes that it was not generally known in the south and that an eastern form velich existed beside it.[4]

From “protected against danger” came “involving little risk”, the second sense in Van Dale, with phrases such as aan de veilige kant blijven “to err on the side of caution”.[10] Zich veilig stellen was criticised as a germanism in the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal.[4] In modern Dutch veilig vrijen is the equivalent of “safe sex”.[10] West Frisian has the same word as feilich.[11]

Timeline

  • 1313 – Merchants may land and travel veilich.[2]
  • 1348 – The verb veiligen “to protect”.[2]
  • 1357 – Met gantser veyligheden “in total safety”.[2]
  • 1401–1423 – The date in the Chronologisch woordenboek.[8]
  • 1513 – The first quotation in the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal.[4]
  • 1866 – Veilig en wel “safe and sound”.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. safe, protected against danger: Hier ben je veilig voor de storm.[10][1]
  2. Involving little risk: een veilige keuze.[10]

Adverb

  1. safely: Kom veilig thuis![1]

Word family

  • beveiligen
  • onveilig
  • veiligheid
  • brandveilig
  • veiligstelling
  • veil

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. ^ Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ a b c Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  7. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 401
  8. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  9. ^ a b Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
  10. ^ a b c d Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  11. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)