zelfs Dutch · revision 37274

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1285, Middle Dutch|origins=nl zelf}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /zɛlfs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''zelfs'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Regional forms are ''zulfs'' and ''zölfs'' in the north-east and ''zelles'' in West Friesland and the east.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|selves]], the genitive of [[zelf]] used as an adverb.^(EWN)^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)^(De Vries 1971) The same frozen genitive is [[gml|selves]] and [[gmh|sëlbes]], beside [[m|gmh|sëlbest]], whence modern [[de|selbst]].^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(WNT) Middle Dutch also wrote it ⟨selfs⟩ and used it as a pronoun meaning “self”.^(MNW)^(VMNW)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adverb is first recorded in 1285, in a rhymed text saying that the publican did not even dare raise his eyes to God.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997) In 1287 a West Flemish text uses it of a creature whose mouth does not open “to eat or to croak, and not even to drink”.^(EWN)^(VMNW)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle Dutch ''selves'' meant both “even” and, as a pronoun, “self”, with phrases like ''van selfs'' “of its own accord”, modern [[vanzelf]].^(MNW) In the 17th century the uninflected ''zelf'' was often used for ''zelfs'' as well, a use now obsolete except in south-east Flanders.^(WNT) From the 17th century ''zelfs'' also marks a stronger statement after a weaker one, “what is more”, often with ''ja'' before it, as in a Bible text of 1637.^(WNT)^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ Negerhollands and Sranan Tongo ([[srn|srefi]]) took the word over, and Afrikaans has [[m|af|selfs]].^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1285 – Middle Dutch ''selfs'' “even” in a rhymed Bible text.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * 1287 – ''Selues'' in a West Flemish text.^(EWN)^(VMNW)

+ * 1615 – Early modern ''zelfs'' with the sense “even” is recorded.^(WNT)

+ * 1637 – ''Ja selfs'' “indeed even” in a Bible text.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|even]]: against all expectation: ''zelfs de leraar wist het niet'', even the teacher didn't know.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # What is more, [[m|en|indeed]]: ''het was koud, zelfs ijskoud'', it was cold, freezing even.^(Van Dale 2014)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[zelf]]

+ * [[vanzelf]]

+ * [[de|selbst]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}