vrolijk

Forms

vrolijk (comparative vrolijker, superlative vrolijkst)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch vrôlijc, inherited from Old Dutch frōlīko (recorded as an adverb), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *frawalīk.^[2][3][1] It is formed with the suffix -lijk from the adjective that survives as Middle Dutch vro (“glad, merry”), which the derivative replaced after the Middle Ages.^[2][4][5] The same derivative is Middle Low German vrolik and Old High German frawalīh, frōlīh (modern German fröhlich); Old Frisian frōlik was borrowed from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German.^[2][6]

The base adjective is Old Saxon frā, frō, Old High German frō (modern German froh), Old Frisian frē, frō, all “glad, lively”, and Old Norse frár (“swift, nimble”).^[2][7][6] Kroonen reconstructs it as Proto-Germanic *frawa- (“quick, light”), from Proto-Indo-European *prou-o-.^[7][2] If the first meaning was “lively, quick”, this may come from the root Proto-Indo-European *prew- (“to jump”), with Sanskrit प्रवते (právate, “to leap”) and perhaps Russian прыг (pryg, “a jump”), пры́гать (prýgatʹ, “to jump, hop”); the sense would have gone from “quick” to “cheerful”.^[2][6][8][9] Heidermanns's link with *pro- (“forward”) fits the meaning less well.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Old Dutch adverb is found in the second half of the 12th century, in a rhymed Bible text: Tho gieng petrus in the stat froliche “then Peter went cheerfully into the city”.^[2][3] The Middle Dutch adverb vrolike follows around 1200, and the adjective vroilec in a Limburg glossary of about 1240, translating Latin jocundus “merry”.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

Middle Dutch used vrolijc for passing joy and for a cheerful nature, for religious joy, “blessed”, and also for sensual pleasure.^[5][4] In the 16th century it was also spelled vroyelick.^[10] The phrase vrolijk zijn, often with eating and drinking, came to mean to make merry;^[10] laet ons nu vrolick wesen “let us be merry now” is recorded in 1550.^[10] Inn signs named jolly figures, such as de Vrolijke Schuitevoerder, and a vrolijke Frans is a carefree merrymaker.^[10][11] In modern Dutch the word can also mean “as if nothing had happened” and, colloquially, “tipsy”.^[12][11]

Dutch lent the word to English as frolic, an adjective from the 1530s, and to West Frisian as froalik and Negerhollands as frolik.^[13][6][14] It lives on in Afrikaans vrolik.^[1]

Timeline

• 1151–1200 – The Old Dutch adverb froliche is recorded in a rhymed Bible text.^[2][3]
• c. 1200 – The Middle Dutch adverb vrolike appears in Limburg.^[4][15]
• c. 1240 – The adjective vroilec glosses Latin jocundus.^[4][2]
• 1530s – English frolic is borrowed from Middle Dutch.^[13]
• 1550 – Laet ons nu vrolick wesen is recorded.^[10]

Meanings

Adjective

1. cheerful, merry, in high spirits; also of a cheerful nature.^[11][12][1]
2. Cheering, making one glad: een vrolijk kleurtje op de muur.^[11][12]
3. As if nothing were the matter: Hij ging vrolijk verder met zijn werk.^[12][11]
4. (colloquial) Slightly tipsy.^[12]

Word family

• onvrolijk
• vrolijkheid
• vervrolijken

Related words

• vreugde
• vors
• English frolic
• German fröhlich

Usage notes

Een vrolijke Frans is a carefree merrymaker, and een vrolijke noot something cheerful or amusing in an otherwise serious setting.^[11]

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 k 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 Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
6. ^ a b c d Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b 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. 421
9. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
10. ^ a b c d e 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
11. ^ a b c d e f Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
12. ^ a b c d e Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
13. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
14. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
15. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen