hoeven Dutch · revision 37286

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=back-formation|attested=1588|origins=gmw-pro *bihōfōn}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈɦuvə(n)/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''hoeven'''^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ Its likely source is [[der|nl|behoeven|t=to need]], of which it is the colloquial form; the prefixed verb is recorded about three centuries earlier, the plain one only from 1588, when Kiliaan lists ⟨hoeven⟩ beside ⟨behoeven⟩.^(EWN)^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)^(De Vries 1971)^(Wiktionary) In most Middle Dutch pairs of verbs with and without [[be-]] the plain verb is the older, but the old West Germanic languages have only the prefixed one: [[gml|behōven]], [[ofs|bihōvia]] and [[ang|behōfian]] (modern [[en|behove]]), from [[gmw-pro|*bihōfōn|t=to need]], a verb made from [[m|gmw-pro|*bihōf|t=need]].^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(Wiktionary) The earliest plain verb elsewhere is late [[m|gml|hōven|t=to need]], beside [[fy|hoeve]].^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)

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+ Wiktionary therefore takes ⟨hoeven⟩ to be a back-formation.^(Wiktionary) The Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands knows no parallel and thinks it likelier that the verb entered the standard language from the northeast, under Low German or Frisian influence, where verbs had fewer prefixes; it notes that southern Dutch dialects do not have the word.^(EWN) Verdam assumed that the plain verb had been in Middle Dutch speech all along.^(MNW)

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+ The verb is generally linked to [[heffen]] “to lift”: its vowel is that of the old past tense, Middle Dutch ⟨hoef⟩, and it may have begun as a causative, “to cause to lift”, then “to cause to take” and “to need”, though the steps can no longer be traced.^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912) [[non|hóf|t=right measure]] belongs with it.^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Kiliaan's dictionary of 1588 lists ''hoeuen'' with ''behoeuen'' in the sense “to need”.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001) Around 1610 ''hier hoeft hy grote vlijt'' means “here he needs great diligence”.^(EWN)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle Dutch ''behoeven'' meant both “to need” and “to be needed”, and in Early Modern Dutch ''hoeven'' did too: ''rust hoeft oock den stercken mannen'', “rest is needed by strong men too” (1618).^(EWN) Then the two verbs drew apart.^(EWN) ''Behoeven'' now means only “to need” and is bookish, while ''hoeven'' is used only with a negative, as in ''men hoeft den hont geen broot te geven'', “there is no need to give the dog bread” (1632), and ''dat hoeft niet'' “that is not necessary” (1723), or with words such as ''maar'' and ''slechts'' that limit the sense.^(EWN)^(WNT) Positive uses like ''daarin hoefde men vast te gaan'' (1642) and a noun object, as in ''hy hoeft gien grijns'' “he needs no mask” (1610), have gone out of use.^(WNT)

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+ In 1983 newspapers used ''niet zo nodig hoeven'' for “to lack ambition” and ''dat hoeft niet van mij'' for “I can do without that”.^(Reinsma 1984) Javindo has ''hoef'', and Afrikaans has [[m|af|hoef]].^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1588 – Kiliaan lists ''hoeven'' beside ''behoeven''.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * c. 1610 – ''Hier hoeft hy grote vlijt'' “here he needs great diligence”.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+ * 1618 – ''Hoeven'' “to be needed”.^(EWN)

+ * 1632 – Negative ''niet hoeven'' “not to have to”.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+ * 1723 – ''Dat hoeft niet'' “that is not necessary”.^(EWN)

+ * 1983 – ''Niet zo nodig hoeven'' “to lack ambition”.^(Reinsma 1984)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(with te, in negative or limiting sentences)'' To have to, [[m|en|need]] to: ''Je hoeft morgen niet te werken.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # ''(intransitive, of things, negated)'' To be necessary: ''Een cadeau hoeft echt niet.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(transitive, with maar)'' To need only: ''Ik hoef er maar één.''^(Wiktionary)^(EWN)

+ # ''(intransitive, euphemistic)'' To need to go to the toilet.^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[behoeven]]

+ * [[behoefte]]

+ * [[heffen]]

+ * [[en|behove]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Belgian Dutch ''hoeven'' is known from the north but not usual; [[moeten]] is used instead, as in “I only need two” said with ''moeten''.^(EWN) ''Behoeven'' remains the formal word.^(EWN)^(WNT)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}