nooit Dutch · revision 37165

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=1265–1270, Middle Dutch (Brabant)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /noːit/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nooit'''^(Wiktionary)

+ ''Nooint'' was common in the past and is still used in Flanders.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|noit]], also [[m|dum|noint]], probably formed [[af|nl|n-|ooit]], with the negative particle of [[nee]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary)^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912) The EWN and Heeroma think it was formed on the model of pairs such as [[niets]] beside [[iets]], [[niemand]] beside [[iemand]], [[nergens]] beside [[ergens]], and above all Middle Dutch [[m|dum|nie|t=never]] beside [[m|dum|ie|t=ever]].^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004|265) Neither word has been found in the related Germanic languages.^(VMNW)^(MNW)

+

+ The source of the ⟨n⟩ in the variant ⟨noint⟩, as in the opposite ⟨oint⟩, is unknown.^(EWN) Heeroma derived it from an original ⟨*nooitnie⟩, through ⟨*nooiniet⟩ or ⟨*nooitn⟩.^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The oldest records are in the Life of Saint Lutgard (1265–1270), from western Brabant.^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(EWN)^(VMNW) There ''noit'' also appears after a comparative where modern Dutch has ''ooit'': ''Meer dan ic noit was teuoren'', “more than I ever was before”.^(EWN)^(VMNW) The same text says that God ''Lutgarden noit nit nonsseide'', “never refused Lutgard” such things.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle Dutch ''nooit'' referred to the past: Kiliaan glosses ''noyt'' with Latin ''nunquam'' and notes that it refers to time gone by, while ''nemmer'' and ''nimmermeer'' served for the future.^(MNW) It could also mean “not at all”, a use still heard in ''dat is nooit waar''.^(MNW) In questions, conditions and after comparatives it could mean the same as ''ooit''.^(MNW)^(EWN)

+

+ Older Dutch put a second negative with it, as in ''En hebben noynt gheene …'' (1562), and the colloquial ''nooit niet'' continues this.^(WNT)^(Van Dale 2014) Houses and pleasure gardens were named ''Nooit Gedacht'' or ''Nooit Volmaakt''.^(WNT)

+

+ Through Afrikaans the word reached South African English as an exclamation of disbelief, ''nooit!''.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary) It also lives on in Negerhollands (''nooit'', which passed on ''noit'' to Virgin Islands Creole), Berbice Dutch (''noiti'') and Sranan Tongo ([[srn|noiti]]), which passed it on to Aukan and Saramaccan.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1265–1270 – Middle Dutch ''noit'' appears in the Life of Saint Lutgard.^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(VMNW)

+ * 1276 – ''Noit'' “never (in the past)” is recorded in West Flanders.^(VMNW)

+ * 1285 – The variant ''noint'' is recorded.^(EWN)

+ * 1562 – ''Noynt'' is still used with a second negative.^(WNT)

+ * 1874 – The Flemish intensive ''nooit of nooit'' is quoted.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|never]], at no time.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(ANW) ''Ik ben nog nooit in Lissabon geweest.'' ''Nooit ofte nimmer'' means never ever.^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # Certainly not, by no means.^(Van Dale 2014)^(MNW) ''Dat kan nooit waar zijn.'' ''Je kunt nooit weten'': one never knows.^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ooit]]

+ * [[nimmer]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Nooit niet'' is colloquial and emphatic.^(Van Dale 2014) The southern ''nooit of nooit'' strengthens the word.^(WNT)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}