proberen Dutch · revision 37202

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1440, Middle Dutch|origins=la probus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˌproːˈbeː.rə(n)/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''proberen'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|proberen|t=to prove]], [[bor|la|probō|t=to test, approve, prove]], with the verb ending [[-eren]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary)^(De Vries 1971)^(ANW) The Latin verb is a derivative of [[m|la|probus|t=tested, good, sound]], literally “being in front”, formed with [[m|la|prō-|t=in front]] and ⟨-bus⟩, which probably belongs to the root [[ine-pro|*bʰuH-|alt=*bʰeuh₂-|t=to be]], the root of [[zijn]].^(EWN) From “to prove” the sense “to try to prove” and then “to try” could develop.^(EWN) The same Latin verb had come into Dutch earlier through French, as [[proeven]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary) Middle Dutch also had the form ⟨probieren⟩, as Middle High German and Middle Low German had [[m|gmh|probieren]].^(EWN)^(MNW)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Philippa dictionary dates the first record to about 1440, in the sense “to prove”: ''Dat ic corte mach proberen'', “which I can soon prove”; the Middle Dutch dictionary has ''Dat ic mit reden wil probieren'' “which I will prove with reasons” from a Holland text it dates to 1430.^(EWN)^(MNW)^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997) By 1469 the verb also meant “to examine, test”, as when balsam ''probiert ende proeft'' “examines and tests”.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Teuthonista of 1477 has the noun ''probyering'' “examination”.^(EWN) In the 16th century gold and silver were ''gheprobeert'' in the fire (1557), and in 1584 a council decided to test a woman accused of witchcraft by water.^(WNT) The old sense “to prove” was still used in 1557, but is now obsolete, as is ''geprobeerd'' “tried and found good”.^(WNT)

+

+ From about 1700 the verb meant “to try out”: ''eenen knecht aannemen op 't probeeren'' was to take on a servant on trial (1727).^(EWN)^(WNT) The sense “to attempt”, followed by ''te'' and an infinitive, is first recorded in 1724–1726 and is now the usual one.^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(WNT)^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ The word went to Negerhollands as ''probeer'', Berbice Dutch as ''prubere'' and Sranan Tongo as ''proberi'' (older ''proba''), from which Saramaccan has ''pooba'';^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary) Afrikaans has ''probeer''.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1430 – ''Probieren'' “to prove” appears in a Holland text.^(MNW)

+ * c. 1440 – ''Proberen'' “to prove” is recorded.^(EWN)^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)

+ * 1469 – The sense “to examine, test” appears.^(EWN)

+ * 1477 – The Teuthonista has ''probyering'' “examination”.^(EWN)

+ * 1557 – Gold and silver are ''gheprobeert'' in the fire.^(WNT)

+ * 1724–1726 – The sense “to attempt” is first recorded.^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * 1727 – ''Op 't probeeren'' “on trial” is recorded.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|try]] out, [[m|en|test]], to make a trial of: ''Probeer deze schoenen eens.'' ''Het met iemand proberen'' is to give someone a trial.^(Van Dale 2014)^(WikiWoordenboek)^(WNT)

+ # To try, [[m|en|attempt]], to do one's best to achieve something, often with ''te'' and an infinitive: ''Ze probeerde de trein nog te halen.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[probeersel]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[proeven]]

+ * [[proef]]

+ * [[probaat]]

+ * [[de|probieren]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Probeer het eens!'' can be a challenge, “just you dare!”.^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}