steeds Dutch · revision 37222

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=1351, Middle Dutch|origins=gem-pro *stēdijaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /steːts/^(Wiktionary)

+ * Belgium: [steːts]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Netherlands: [steɪ̯ts]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''steeds'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|stedes]], an adverbial genitive in [[m|nl|-s]] of the Middle Dutch adjective [[m|dum|stede|t=steadfast, lasting]], a form with umlaut beside the commoner [[m|dum|stade]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary)^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004) The adjective goes back to [[gem-pro|*stēdijaz|alt=*stēdija-|t=lasting]], found only in continental West Germanic, and [[gestadig]] belongs with it.^(EWN)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(Heidermanns 1993) Middle Dutch also had ⟨staets⟩, formed from ⟨stade⟩ in the same way and still known in the south as ⟨staads⟩.^(EWN)^(MNW)^(WNT)

+

+ The same adverb is [[gml|stedes]], [[gmh|stætes]] (modern [[de|stets]]) and [[ofs|stēdes]] (modern [[fy|stees]]).^(EWN) Whether the Dutch word owes its form to German is debated: Franck–Van Wijk and Vercoullie took it from High German ⟨stets⟩, while Van Haeringen argued that the base ⟨stêde⟩ also occurs in texts with no German influence, so that German at most helped the form to spread, the view the Philippa dictionary takes.^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(Vercoullie 1925)^(Van Haeringen 1936)^(EWN) Van Veen and Van der Sijs instead derive it from Middle Dutch ⟨stede⟩ “place”, which was also used of time.^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adverb is first recorded in 1351, in the sense “each time”: ''steeds weder van hare'', “again and again from her”.^(EWN)^(MNW) The sense “continually” follows in a Holland text of 1470–1490, ''Odolias by hoer steets bleeff'', “Odolias stayed with them all the time”.^(EWN)^(MNW)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the late Middle Ages the word was still rare, and ''staets'' was used mainly in the east.^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004)^(MNW) The Teuthonista of 1477 lists ''steeds'' with a reference to ''altijt'' “always”.^(MNW) Plantin's dictionary of 1573 gives ''stedes'' “always”, and Kiliaan (1599) also records ''steds'' as an adjective meaning “assiduous”.^(EWN)^(MNW)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912) In 1666 a perpetual motion machine was called ''een steets beweeglijck werk''.^(WNT)

+

+ The two senses “without stopping” and “again and again” have stayed side by side.^(WNT)^(Van Dale 2014) With [[nog]] the adverb means “still”, and with a comparative “more and more”.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary) Danish (''stedse''), Norwegian (''stetse'') and Swedish (''städse'') took the word from Dutch or Low German.^(Van der Sijs 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1351 – Middle Dutch ''steeds'' “every time”.^(EWN)^(MNW)

+ * 1408 – ''Van staets'' “continually” in a Holland text.^(MNW)

+ * 1470–1490 – ''Steets'' “all the time”.^(EWN)^(MNW)

+ * 1477 – The Teuthonista lists ''steeds''.^(MNW)

+ * 1573 – Plantin's dictionary gives ''stedes'' “always”.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+ * 1666 – ''Steets beweeglijck'' for a perpetual motion machine.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|continually]], all the time.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Every time, [[m|en|repeatedly]].^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # With ''nog'': [[m|en|still]], up to this moment: ''het regent nog steeds''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # With a comparative: more and more, ever: ''het werd steeds kouder''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nog steeds]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gestadig]]

+ * [[stad]]

+ * [[de|stets]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ An adjective ''steeds'' “urban, citified” (''een steedse dame'') is another word, a form of ''stads'' from ''stede'' “town”; the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal records ''steedts'' “of the town” in 1573.^(Van Dale 2014)^(WNT)^(Wiktionary) Eastern dialects also have an adjective ''steedsch'' for a horse that will not move from its place.^(WNT)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}