even Dutch · revision 37195

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1240, Middle Dutch|origins=gem-pro *ebnaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈeː.və(n)/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''even''' (adverb; adjective, not comparable)^(Wiktionary)

+ Colloquial forms are ''effe'', ''effies'', ''eventjes'' and ''effetjes'', and in Belgium and southern dialects ''efkes'' or ''effekens''.^(EWN) The shorthand ''ff'' is used in writing.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|even]], a by-form of the more usual Middle Dutch adjective [[m|dum|effen]], [[inh|odt|*evan]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*ebn]], [[inh|gem-pro|*ebnaz|t=even, level]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary) The Old Dutch word is found in the place name ⟨Euinaccar⟩ “level field” (821–823).^(EWN) The same adjective is [[osx|eƀan]], [[goh|eban]] (modern [[de|eben]]), [[ofs|even]], [[ang|efen]] (modern [[en|even]]), [[non|jafn]] and [[got|𐌹𐌱𐌽𐍃|tr=ibns]].^(EWN)^(Kroonen 2013)^(De Vries 1971) The ⟨ff⟩ of ⟨effen⟩ is a sharpening of ⟨v⟩ before ⟨n⟩.^(De Vries 1971)^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004|118)^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)

+

+ In Middle Dutch ⟨effen⟩ was the usual form of the adjective; ⟨even⟩ came into general use in early modern Dutch, and the meanings were then divided: [[effen]] kept the spatial “smooth, flat”, while ⟨even⟩ took the abstract senses and the adverb.^(EWN) The same doubling is found in [[tevens]] beside ⟨teffens⟩ and [[nevens]] beside ⟨neffens⟩.^(EWN)

+

+ The EWN finds no convincing Indo-European etymology.^(EWN) Proposals include a root meaning “twin” and a link with [[la|imitor|t=to imitate]] and [[m|la|imāgō|t=image]], but the development to ⟨-mn-⟩ and ⟨-bn-⟩ remains disputed.^(EWN)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(De Vries 1971) Kroonen derives the word from a root [[ine-pro|*h₁em-]], comparing a Sanskrit adverb meaning “just now”, and rejects the older proposals.^(Kroonen 2013)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Middle Dutch adverb ''effene'', “evenly, exactly”, is recorded in 1236, and ''even'' as an adverb of degree, “equally”, around 1240.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997) In 1284 a Dordrecht charter has ''effen vele'', “as much”.^(EWN)^(VMNW)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “divisible by two” appears with the game ''even of oneven'', guessing “even or odd”: Van der Sijs dates it to 1467, and the Teuthonista of 1477 names the game.^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(EWN) Since Middle High German had ''eban'' “divisible by two” in 1022, the sense is old.^(EWN) The meaning “equal”, as in ''even groot'', survives in compounds such as [[evenals]], [[evenknie]] and [[evenwicht]], and in ''om het even'', “all the same”.^(EWN)^(Van Dale 2014)^(WNT)

+

+ The adverb of time grew out of “just, exactly”: ''even doen'', “just then”, in 1632 and ''even op dat woort'', “just at that word”, in 1656 still need a further phrase.^(EWN) Later ''even'' stood alone for “for or within a short time”: ''Ik had maar even tyd'' (1764–1775).^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001) It then became a particle that softens a request by suggesting it takes little time, as in ''wijs ons reis effen'', “just show us” (1835), and a second particle expressing the speaker's surprise: ''Was Jan effies dapper?'', “wasn't John brave!” (1903).^(EWN)

+

+ The adverb passed into Javindo, Negerhollands, Kwinti and Caribbean Javanese.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 821–823 – The Old Dutch place name ''Euinaccar'' “level field” is recorded.^(EWN)

+ * 1236 – Middle Dutch ''effene'' “evenly” is recorded.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * c. 1240 – ''Even'' is recorded as an adverb of degree.^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * 1467 – The sense “divisible by two” is recorded.^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * 1632 – ''Even'' means “just (then)”.^(EWN)

+ * 1659–1673 – Van der Sijs dates the adverb of time “a moment”.^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * 1835 – ''Effen'' is used as a softening particle.^(EWN)

+ * 1903 – ''Effies'' expresses surprise.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # For a moment, [[m|en|briefly]]: ''Ik ga even boodschappen doen.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A little way: ''even verderop''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # Softening a request, implying little effort: ''Kun je even het raam dichtdoen?''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(EWN)

+ # Emphatic, “really”: ''Dat was even schrikken!''^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # No less than: ''Hij won even tienduizend euro.''^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # Just as, [[m|en|equally]] (before an adjective): ''Ze is even oud als ik.''^(Wiktionary)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # ''(Netherlands)'' Quite, rather.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|even]], divisible by two: ''Acht is even.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Equal, the same, only in ''om het even'', all the same, no matter.^(Van Dale 2014)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[evenbeeld]]

+ * [[evenknie]]

+ * [[eveneens]]

+ * [[evenmin]]

+ * [[evenredig]]

+ * [[evenveel]]

+ * [[evenzoveel]]

+ * [[evenals]]

+ * [[oneven]]

+ * [[evenen]]

+ * [[eventjes]]

+ * [[daareven]]

+ * [[zo-even]]

+ * [[evenmens]]

+ * [[evenwel]]

+ * [[evenwicht]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[effen]]

+ * [[en|even]]

+ * [[de|eben]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ An unrelated noun ''even'' or ''evene'' “oats”, an old borrowing of Latin ''avena'', survives in Flemish dialects for wild oats.^(WNT)^(Debrabandere 2005)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}