geweldig Dutch · revision 37220

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=901–1000, Wachtendonck Psalms|origins=gmw-pro *waldōn}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɣə.ˈʋɛl.dəx/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''geweldig''' (comparative geweldiger, superlative geweldigst)^(Wiktionary)

+ Earlier Dutch sometimes had the form ''weldig''.^(WNT)^(Van der Sijs 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|gheweldich]], [[inh|odt|giweldig|t=powerful]], formed [[af|odt|giwalt|-ig|t1=power]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary)^(ONW)^(VMNW) Its base noun, the ancestor of [[geweld]], is a West Germanic derivative with the prefix [[m|odt|gi-]] of the verb [[m|odt|waldan|t=to rule]], from [[gmw-pro|*waldōn|t=to govern, rule]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary) Köbler connects the verb with a root [[ine-pro|*wal-|t=to be strong]].^(Köbler ANFRK)

+

+ The same adjective is [[osx|giweldig]], [[goh|giwaltīg]] (modern [[de|gewaltig]]) and [[ofs|weldech]]; modern West Frisian [[m|fy|geweldich]] comes from Dutch.^(EWN)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912) The adjective has umlaut, and with the umlauted forms of the noun it spread ⟨-eld-⟩ to the noun, beside the regular Middle Dutch ⟨ghewout⟩.^(EWN)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The oldest record is in the 10th-century Wachtendonck Psalms, where ''geweldig werthan'' means “to gain power over” the psalmist.^(EWN)^(ONW)^(Van der Sijs 2001) About 1100 the Egmond Williram says that the bridegroom is ''gewaldigh'', able by his divinity, to give his followers the gifts of the Holy Spirit.^(ONW) In Middle Dutch a Limburg glossary of 1240 renders Latin ''violentus'' with ''geweldeg'', and in 1265–1270 God is addressed as ''geweldech vader'', “mighty Father”.^(EWN)^(VMNW)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle Dutch ''gheweldich'' meant powerful or ruling over something, strong, and violent.^(VMNW)^(MNW) Kiliaan (1599) gives “violent, impetuous”, and in the 17th century the word came to mean in general “great, strong, grand”: ''geweldige beloften'' (about 1635), ''geweldige droefheid'' (1646).^(EWN)^(WNT) In biblical style rulers and giants are ''geweldigen'', “mighty ones”.^(WNT)

+

+ All the older meanings have since died out.^(EWN) In the 20th century “very great” moved towards “excellent”: in 1913 a text on aviation speaks of ''onze geweldige techniek'', “our marvellous technology”.^(EWN) As an adverb the word became a mere intensifier, already in ''gheweldich cout'' “terribly cold” (1598) and ''geweldig zorgeloos'' (1687); German ''gewaltig'' went the same way.^(EWN) Danish ''vældig'', Norwegian ''veldig'' and Swedish ''väldig'' “huge, extremely” come from Dutch or Low German, and Petjo and Javindo have ''haweldih'' and ''geweldeg''.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 901–1000 – Old Dutch ''geweldig'' “having power over” in the Wachtendonck Psalms.^(EWN)^(ONW)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * c. 1100 – ''Gewaldigh'' “powerful” in the Egmond Williram.^(ONW)

+ * 1240 – Middle Dutch ''geweldeg'' glosses Latin ''violentus''.^(EWN)^(VMNW)

+ * 1265–1270 – ''Geweldech vader'' “mighty Father”.^(EWN)^(VMNW)

+ * 1598 – ''Gheweldich cout'' “extremely cold”, an early intensifying use.^(EWN)

+ * 1646 – ''Geweldige droefheit'' “great sorrow”.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+ * 1913 – ''Geweldig'' in the sense “excellent”.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|enormous]], [[m|en|tremendous]]: extremely great or strong.^(Van Dale 2014)^(ANW)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|wonderful]], [[m|en|great]]: very good or enjoyable.^(Van Dale 2014)^(ANW)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|violent]], vehement: with great force: ''een geweldige klap''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(ANW)

+ # Very loud.^(ANW)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Very, [[m|en|extremely]]: ''het was geweldig druk''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(ANW)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[geweldigaard]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[geweld]]

+ * [[de|gewaltig]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}