mens Dutch · revision 37152

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1100, Old Dutch (Egmond Williram)|origins=gem-pro *mann-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /mɛns/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mens''' ''m'' (plural mensen, diminutive mensje n)^(Wiktionary)

+ As a neuter noun, ''het mens'', it means a woman, usually disparagingly.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary) The older spelling was ''mensch''.^(Wiktionary)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|mensche]], [[inh|odt|mennisko]], [[inh|gem-pro|*manniskaz|t=human]]: the weak form of an adjective meaning “human” used as a noun.^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(Wiktionary) The adjective was formed from [[gem-pro|*mann-]], the ancestor of [[man]], with the suffix [[gem-pro|*-iskaz]] (Dutch [[-s]]), whose ⟨i⟩ caused umlaut of the ⟨a⟩.^(EWN)^(ONW)^(Orel 2003) The same noun is [[osx|mennisko]], [[goh|mennisco]] (modern [[de|Mensch]]) and [[ofs|menneska]] (modern [[fy|minske]]), while [[ang|mennisc]] meant “mankind, people” and [[non|mennska]] “human nature”.^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971) The adjective itself survives in [[m|ang|mennisc]] and [[got|𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌽𐌹𐍃𐌺𐍃|tr=mannisks|t=human]].^(EWN)^(Orel 2003)

+

+ Kluge, cited in the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, held that the adjective first meant “descended from Mannus”, the forefather of the Germanic peoples in Tacitus.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old Dutch ''mennisko'' first appears around 1100 in the Egmond Williram, in ''thaz tu mennisco werthes'' “that you become man”, said of Christ.^(EWN)^(ONW) The Middle Dutch form ''mensche'' “person” is recorded in Ghent in 1236.^(EWN)^(VMNW)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Mens'' gradually took over the general sense of [[man]], “human being”, so that it covers men and women alike.^(EWN) The gender was masculine and neuter from the start.^(EWN)^(MNW) In German the neuter came to be used from the 15th century for women, especially servants, since the 18th century mostly in contempt, and Dutch went the same way: ''het mens'' for a woman is recorded in 1784.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+

+ Many sayings have ''mens'' as their subject.^(Van der Sijs 2005)^(Stoett 1923) ''De mens wikt, God beschikt'', “man proposes, God disposes”, translates a Latin proverb.^(Van der Sijs 2005) ''Bergen en dalen ontmoeten elkaar niet, maar mensen wel'' is used at an unexpected meeting and is found in the 17th century.^(Stoett 1923) Through Yiddish Dutch also has ''mensj'', a decent, trustworthy person.^(Van de Kamp 2006) The word lives on in Afrikaans [[m|af|mens]] and in Negerhollands.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – Old Dutch ''mennisco'' in the Egmond Williram.^(EWN)^(ONW)

+ * 1236 – Middle Dutch ''mensche'' “person”, in Ghent.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * 1240 – ''Menscheit'' “human nature”.^(EWN)

+ * 1548 – ''Meynschen en beesten'', people and animals.^(WNT)

+ * 1784 – Neuter ''mensch'' for a woman.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|human]] being, a member of the species that is set apart from the animals by reason and language.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|person]].^(Wiktionary)^(EWN)

+ # ''(neuter, pejorative)'' A woman.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[goedmens]]

+ * [[medemens]]

+ * [[mensdom]]

+ * [[menselijk]]

+ * [[menselijkheid]]

+ * [[menseneter]]

+ * [[mensenhandel]]

+ * [[mensheid]]

+ * [[mensonterend]]

+ * [[menswaardig]]

+ * [[natuurmens]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[man]]

+ * [[de|Mensch]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Een mens is geen aardappel'' means that people need some fun now and then.^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}