al Dutch · revision 37109

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=776–800, Old Dutch (Utrecht baptismal vow)|origins=gem-pro *allaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɑl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''al'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Inflected ''alle'', ''allen''; the neuter used as a noun is [[alles]].^(Van Dale 2014)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|al]], [[inh|odt|al]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*all]], [[inh|gem-pro|*allaz|alt=*alla-|t=all, whole]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary)^(Kroonen 2013) The same word is [[osx|al]], [[goh|al]] (modern [[de|all]]), [[ofs|al]] (modern [[fy|al]]), [[ang|eall]] (modern [[en|all]]), [[non|allr]] and [[got|𐌰𐌻𐌻𐍃|tr=alls]].^(EWN)^(Kroonen 2013)^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004|48) An 11th-century plural [[m|odt|olla]] shows ⟨a⟩ changed to ⟨o⟩.^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)

+

+ The double /l/ arose from /ln/, as in [[vol]], and an unsuffixed ⟨*ala-⟩ survives as a prefix in compounds such as [[got|𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌼𐌰𐌽𐍃|tr=alamans|t=all mankind]], in the tribal name of the Alamanni, whence [[fr|Allemagne|t=Germany]], and in Middle Dutch [[m|dum|alewaer|t=wholly true]] and [[m|dum|aelmachtich|t=almighty]].^(EWN)^(Kroonen 2013)^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)

+

+ The pre-Germanic form ⟨*al-no-⟩ may be a participle of [[ine-pro|*h₂el-|t=to grow]], the root of [[oud]]; [[osc|allo|t=whole]] and [[sga|uile|t=all]] would then be related.^(EWN)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004|48) Kroonen reconstructs [[m|ine-pro|*h₂el-nó-]], comparing also [[lt|aliaĩ|t=completely]].^(Kroonen 2013) De Vries found the link with growing not fully satisfying and preferred a connection with [[m|sga|oll|t=great, ample]].^(De Vries 1971)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is in the Utrecht baptismal vow of the late 8th century, where the candidate renounces ''allum dioboles uuercum'' “all the devil's works”.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001) The Wachtendonck Psalms of the 10th century have ''al ertha'' “the whole earth” and ''alle criepinda'' “all creeping things”.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “whole” is the oldest, and it was also used adverbially, as in ''hy is al vriend, of al vyand'' “he is wholly friend or wholly foe” (1784–85).^(EWN) The WNT notes that ''al'' “whole” gradually gave way to [[geheel]] and [[heel]], while the sense “every, all” spread.^(WNT) The old sense survives in ''geheel en al'' (1805–08) and in ''heel en al'', whence popular ''heelendal''.^(EWN)^(WNT) As a strengthening particle ''al'' formed adverbs such as [[aldus]] (1236), [[aldaar]] (1281), [[alhier]] (1284), [[allicht]] (1804) and [[alleen]].^(EWN)

+

+ The sense “already” probably comes from “completely”, in sentences like ''het licht brandt al''; it is recorded from 1634, and the States Bible of 1688 has ''Ja, sy hebben al een weynigh begonnen'' “yes, they have already begun a little”.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001) The concessive use grew out of the adverb in clauses such as ''Of ick al duysent silverlingen op mijne handen mochte wegen'' (1688); later the conjunction was dropped and ''al'' came first, as in ''Al treedt gij terug'' (1860).^(EWN)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)

+

+ Middle Dutch also used ''al'' as a preposition “along, through”, as in ''al enen pat'' “along a path” (1290), and the MNW, which thinks French ''à l’'' may have played a part, notes that it is still usual in Flanders.^(VMNW)^(MNW) Middle Dutch oaths such as ''bi al dat God leven liet'' “by all that God let live” turned into exclamations, and ''alle duivels!'' and ''alle mensen!'' are still heard.^(Van Sterkenburg 2001) The word passed into Sranan Tongo and Aukan (''ala''), Negerhollands (''al'', ''alda'') and Petjo, and ''alreeds'' “already” into Frisian, Danish and Norwegian (''allerede'').^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 776–800 – ''Allum dioboles uuercum'' “all the devil's works” in the Utrecht baptismal vow.^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(EWN)

+ * 901–1000 – ''Al ertha'' “the whole earth” in the Wachtendonck Psalms.^(EWN)

+ * 11th century – The plural ''olla''.^(EWN)

+ * 1236 – ''Aldus'' “thus”.^(EWN)

+ * 1290 – The preposition ''al'' “along”.^(VMNW)

+ * 1634 – ''Al'' “already”.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * 1688 – ''Al een weynigh begonnen'' in the States Bible.^(EWN)

+ * 1860 – Concessive ''Al treedt gij terug''.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # The whole of, [[m|en|all]]: ''al het water''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(alle)'' Every one of, all: ''alle leerlingen''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(al wie, al wat)'' Whoever, whatever: ''Al wie wil, mag meedoen.''^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|already]], sooner than expected: ''Ben je nu al klaar?''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # As a modal particle: ''Dat dacht ik al.''^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # Strengthening an adjective or adverb: ''al te vroeg''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Conceding a point: ''Hij is, zo al niet rijk, dan toch welgesteld.''^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # Stressing that something goes on: ''Ze liep al zingend door de tuin.''^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # [[m|en|yet]], in questions: ''Is de post al gekomen?''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # Although, even if: ''Al is het koud, we gaan toch wandelen.''^(EWN)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[alles]]

+ * [[allemaal]]

+ * [[alleen]]

+ * [[als]]

+ * [[althans]]

+ * [[aldus]]

+ * [[aldaar]]

+ * [[alhier]]

+ * [[allicht]]

+ * [[altijd]]

+ * [[altoos]]

+ * [[allerlei]]

+ * [[allerhande]]

+ * [[alleszins]]

+ * [[almachtig]]

+ * [[nogal]]

+ * [[meestal]]

+ * [[vooral]]

+ * [[alweer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[oud]]

+ * [[vol]]

+ * [[en|all]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Van Dale records ''een en al'' “nothing but”, ''hoop en al'' “all told, at most” and ''al met al'' “all things considered”.^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}