gewoon Dutch · revision 37204

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1236, Middle Dutch (Ghent)|origins=gem-pro *ga-wuna-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɣəˈʋoːn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gewoon''' (comparative gewoner, superlative gewoonst)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|ghewone]], [[inh|gem-pro|*ga-wuna-]].^(EWN)^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004|141) It is formed with the prefix [[ge-]] on a stem related by ablaut to the verb [[wennen]]: the zero grade of [[gem-pro|*wanjaną|alt=*wan-jan-|t=to accustom]].^(EWN)^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997) The same adjective is [[osx|giwono]] (also ⟨giwuno⟩), [[goh|giwon]] and [[ang|gewuna]], the source of Middle English [[m|enm|wone]]; without the prefix and with another ablaut grade there is [[non|vanr|t=accustomed]].^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912) The modern [[de|gewohnt]] has a final ⟨t⟩ from the past participle of Middle High German [[m|gmh|gewonen]].^(EWN)^(Vercoullie 1925) The Middle Dutch form ⟨ghewōne⟩, with an open long ⟨o⟩, continues the weak form of the adjective, as in Old Saxon, beside the strong form of Old High German.^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(De Vries 1971)^(WNT)

+

+ Whether it is related to [[wonen]] “to live, dwell” is uncertain.^(EWN) The Middle Dutch dictionary, Franck–Van Wijk and Vercoullie derive it from the stem of that verb, and the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal sees a close link, since Middle Dutch ⟨ghewone⟩ once means “living (somewhere)”.^(MNW)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(Vercoullie 1925)^(WNT) The Philippa dictionary thinks such rare crossings of meaning more likely show later popular influence of that verb.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The word is first recorded in a Ghent charter of 1236: ''den orlof dien de heilege kerke es gewone tegeuene'', “the leave which holy church is wont to give”.^(VMNW)^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001) A Limburg glossary of about 1240 translates Latin ''consuescere'' “to become accustomed” as ''gewone sin''.^(VMNW) In Middle Dutch it was used almost only in ''ghewone sijn'' “to be accustomed, be wont”, and always of people or personifications.^(EWN)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Ghewone sijn'' was followed by an infinitive (''ghewone sijn te doene''), a clause with ''dat'', or a genitive, and meant much the same as ''plegen''.^(EWN)^(MNW) Outside this phrase, ''gewoon'' in the sense “usual, customary” appears only in Early Modern Dutch, as in ''de gewone zinrijckheid'' of a painter (1640); in Middle Dutch ''gewoonlijc'' served this purpose.^(EWN)^(WNT)^(MNW) The 18th century has ''gewoone wagens'' (1776) and ''den gewoonen loop der Natuur'' (1785).^(EWN)^(WNT)

+

+ In modern Dutch the adjective also means “ordinary, plain”, and it names the common species of plants and animals, such as ''gewone zeehond''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary) The adverb means “simply, just”.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary) The saying ''doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg'' sums up a dislike of standing out that is often called typically Dutch.^(Van Dale 2014) In the Dutch of Jews ''gewoon'' meant “non-Jewish”, and ''de gewone jaartelling'' was the Christian calendar.^(Beem 1974)^(Van de Kamp 2006)

+

+ The word was borrowed into Papiamentu (''gewoon'', ''hewon''), Sranan Tongo (''gewoon'' “everyday”), which passed it on to Surinamese Javanese as ''kuwun'' “only”;^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary) Negerhollands had ''geween''.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1236 – ''Gewone'' is first recorded, in a Ghent charter.^(VMNW)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * c. 1240 – A Limburg glossary has ''gewone sin'' for Latin ''consuescere''.^(VMNW)

+ * 1285 – Titus is described as ''wel ten wapinen ghewone'', “well used to arms”.^(EWN)^(VMNW)

+ * 1640 – ''Gewoon'' is used attributively for “usual”.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+ * 1785 – ''Den gewoonen loop der Natuur'' “the ordinary course of nature” is recorded.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|usual]], customary, generally accepted: ''Ze nam de gewone weg naar huis.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # Of the commonest kind, [[m|en|ordinary]]; in names of species ''gewone'' marks the common one.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Plain, unremarkable, everyday: ''Het zijn heel gewone mensen.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # [[m|en|accustomed]], used to: ''Hij is het gewoon om vroeg op te staan.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Simply, just: ''Ik ben het gewoon vergeten.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[buitengewoon]]

+ * [[gewoonheid]]

+ * [[gewoonlijk]]

+ * [[gewoonte]]

+ * [[gewoontjes]]

+ * [[gewoonweg]]

+ * [[ongewoon]]

+ * [[doodgewoon]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wennen]]

+ * [[gewennen]]

+ * [[de|gewohnt]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A ''gewoon hoogleraar'' is a full professor.^(Van Dale 2014) In West Flanders the adjective has the form ''geweune''.^(WNT)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}