eens Dutch · revision 37130

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=901–1000, Wachtendonck Psalms}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /eːns/, /əns/, /əs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''eens''' (adverb; unstressed also '''’ns''', '''’s'''; as an adjective only predicative)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|eens]], [[inh|odt|einis]], an adverbial genitive [[af|nl|een|-s]], the genitive of the numeral.^(EWN)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(Wiktionary) The same formation is [[osx|ēnes]], [[goh|eines]] (with a later /t/ in [[m|goh|einēst]], whence modern [[de|einst]]), [[ofs|ēnes]] (modern [[fy|iens]]), [[ang|ǣnes]] beside [[m|ang|ānes]] (whence [[en|once]], with the ending replaced by ⟨-ce⟩) and [[non|eins]].^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)

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+ The predicative adjective “of one mind” comes from the same genitive, used with [[zijn]], [[wezen]] and [[worden]] to express a quality.^(EWN) It began in phrases such as [[m|dum|des eens werden|t=to come to an agreement]], like [[m|gml|des eins werden]].^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(EWN) Old High German had [[m|goh|ein sīn]] without the genitive; only in the 15th century did German take up [[m|de|des eins sein]], since replaced by [[m|de|einig sein]].^(EWN)

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+ Unstressed and weakened to /əns/ or /əs/, the adverb has become a modal particle, a use that begins in the 17th century.^(EWN)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old Dutch ''einis'' “once” is found in the Wachtendonck Psalms of the 10th century.^(EWN)^(Köbler ANFRK) In Middle Dutch the adjective appears first, in the cloth regulations of Bruges of 1277, where ''al eens'' means “quite even, uniform” of a woven say.^(VMNW)^(EWN) The adverb “once, one time” is recorded in the same year.^(EWN)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle Dutch ''eens'' meant “one time” and “at one time, once upon a time”, as in ''Eens lachi in groter pinen'', “once he lay in great pain” (1320).^(MNW) ''In eens'' was used of a capital sum paid at once, as against yearly interest, and a payment of a thousand guilders ''eens'' (1615) was a single one.^(MNW)^(WNT) ''In eens'' “at one go” is recorded from 1806–1807, and ''op eens'' “at one time” from 1844–1851 and “suddenly” from 1862.^(EWN)

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+ Unstressed ''eens'' with a weakened sense “one time, on occasion” appears in 1621, and in commands, such as ''Denk eens aan'' (1782), it only softens the request; it can also express impatience (1676).^(EWN) The adjective ''eens zijn'' “to agree” is recorded from the late 16th century, and the Teuthonista of 1477 has ''eyns werden''.^(EWN) In Belgium ''eens'' is also a conjunction, “once, as soon as”.^(Wiktionary) ''Eens en voor allemaal'' is a Belgian calque of French ''une fois pour toutes''.^(De Vreese 1899)

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+ Papiamentu borrowed ''eens'' “of the same opinion”, and Petjo has ''niet eens'' “certainly not”.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary) The word lives on in Afrikaans [[m|af|eens]].^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 901–1000 – Old Dutch ''einis'' appears in the Wachtendonck Psalms.^(EWN)

+ * 1277 – ''Al eens'' “uniform” and the adverb ''eens'' are recorded in Flanders.^(VMNW)^(EWN)

+ * 1477 – The Teuthonista has ''eyns werden'' “to agree”.^(EWN)

+ * 1566–1600 – ''Eens zijn'' “to be of one opinion” is recorded.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+ * 1621 – Unstressed ''eens'' with a weakened sense.^(EWN)

+ * 1782 – ''Denk eens aan'', with ''eens'' softening a command.^(EWN)

+ * 1862 – ''Op eens'' “suddenly”.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|once]], one time: ''Ik ben er maar eens geweest.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(WNT)

+ # One more time, as much again: ''eens zo groot'', twice as big.^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # At some time, in the past or the future: ''er was eens'', “once upon a time”.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A modal particle that softens a request or command: ''Kijk eens hier.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In negation: [[m|en|even]]: ''Hij keek niet eens op.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # ''(Belgium)'' Once, as soon as.^(Wiktionary)

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+ ===Adjective===

+ # Only predicative: of the same [[m|en|opinion]], in [[m|en|agreement]]: ''Ik ben het met je eens.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ineens]]

+ * [[opeens]]

+ * [[geeneens]]

+ * [[oneens]]

+ * [[eensgezind]]

+ * [[eensluidend]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[een]]

+ * [[en|once]]

+ * [[de|einst]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}