ze Dutch · revision 37055

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1350, Middle Dutch|origins=dum si}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ze''' (unstressed form of [[zij]]; also used as an object form)^(Van Dale 2014)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|se]], the unstressed form of [[m|dum|si]], modern [[zij]], which also took over the functions of the accusative and dative.^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(WNT) Old Frisian [[m|ofs|se]] was likewise used as an accusative.^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)

+

+ The feminine singular [[m|dum|si]] matches [[goh|si]] and [[got|𐍃𐌹|tr=si]], and is related outside Germanic to [[sga|sí]].^(WNT) The plural developed in Middle Dutch from an older [[m|dum|sie]], under the influence of [[m|dum|wi|t=we]] and [[m|dum|gi|t=you]]; compare Old Dutch [[m|odt|sia]], [[osx|sia]] and [[goh|sie]] (modern [[de|sie]]).^(WNT)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Unstressed ''se'', mostly attached to the preceding word, is recorded from 1350, for both the singular and the plural.^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As the unstressed form, ''ze'' serves for both “she” and “they”, and also as an object form beside [[haar]], [[hen]] and [[hun]].^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(Van Dale 2014) It can stand for people in general, like [[men]], as in ''ze zeggen dat…'' “they say that…”, and it appears as an empty object in informal formulas such as ''maf ze!'' “sleep well”.^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ Through ''zij'' and ''ze'' the pronoun passed into Javindo (as ''sij'' and ''se'') and Chinese Malay.^(Van der Sijs 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1350 – Unstressed Middle Dutch ''se'' is first recorded.^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # [[m|en|she]], unstressed: ''Ze komt morgen.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # ''(informal)'' [[m|en|her]]: ''Ik heb ze gisteren gezien'', of a woman.^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # [[m|en|they]], unstressed: ''Ze wonen hier al jaren.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # [[m|en|them]]: ''Ik heb ze in de kast gelegd.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # As an empty object in set formulas: ''maf ze!''^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # People in general, [[men|alt=one]]: ''Ze zeggen dat het gaat sneeuwen.''^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[zij]]

+ * [[haar]]

+ * [[hen]]

+ * [[hun]]

+ * [[de|sie]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}