moeilijk Dutch · revision 37328

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1287, Middle Dutch (West Flanders)|origins=nl moeien}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmui̯.lək/^(Wiktionary)

+ * Informal: [ˈmu.lək]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''moeilijk''' (comparative moeilijker, superlative moeilijkst)^(Wiktionary)

+ Until the 20th century it was often spelt ''moeielijk''.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|moeyelijc]], formed with the suffix [[-lijk]] from the Middle Dutch noun [[m|dum|moeye|t=trouble, sorrow, burden]] or from the verb [[moeien]] “to trouble, vex”, so that the first meaning was “causing someone trouble”.^(EWN)^(VMNW)^(De Vries 1971)^(Wiktionary) The same formation is [[gml|mōielik]] and [[gmh|müelich]].^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912) The noun corresponds to [[goh|muoī]], modern German [[m|de|Mühe|t=effort]], and is rare in Middle Dutch texts, so the adjective probably existed before the Middle Dutch period.^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(WNT)^(MNW)

+

+ That verb goes back to [[gem-pro|*mōjaną|t=to trouble, torment]], and [[moe]] “tired” and [[moeite]] “effort” belong to the same family.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The oldest record is from West Flanders in 1287, in Jacob van Maerlant's natural history: the buck ''es arde fier ende starc ende i. moilic dier'', “is very wild and strong and a troublesome animal”.^(EWN)^(VMNW)^(Van der Sijs 2001) About 1420 it is said of things, ''van desen moyeliken anxte'', “from this tormenting fear”.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The old active sense, “troublesome, vexing, unpleasant”, was usual until the 17th century and is now obsolete: a text of 1512 calls digging ''een moeylic dync'', “a wearisome thing”.^(WNT) By 1600 the word was said of what puts obstacles in one's way, as in ''moyelijcke wegen'', “difficult roads”, and since the mid-17th century of what can only be done with effort, the main modern sense.^(EWN)^(WNT) Of people it meant “hard to get on with, peevish” (1632), and in the phrase ''iemand moeilijk vallen'' “to bother someone” (1642), now obsolete.^(WNT) In the south, applying it to persons, as French ''difficile'' is used, was criticised as a gallicism.^(De Vreese 1899)

+

+ The proverb ''alle begin is moeilijk'' goes back to a 17th-century rhyme, ''’t Begin van alle dingh is swaer'', and to a medieval Latin saying.^(Stoett 1923) In colloquial Dutch ''moeilijk'' is also an intensifier, “terribly, very”.^(Wiktionary) The word was taken into Sranan Tongo as [[m|srn|muilek]], into Negerhollands, Javindo and Petjo, and Afrikaans has [[m|af|moeilik]].^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1287 – Maerlant calls the buck ''i. moilic dier'', “a troublesome animal”.^(EWN)^(VMNW)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * c. 1420 – Said of a tormenting fear.^(EWN)

+ * 1512 – ''Een moeylic dync'' “a wearisome thing” shows the old active sense.^(WNT)

+ * 1600 – ''Moyelijcke wegen'', “difficult roads”.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+ * 1632 – Said of people: “hard to deal with”.^(WNT)

+ * 1657 – The sense “hard to do” is recorded.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|difficult]], [[m|en|hard]], needing effort or patience: ''Die rekensom was te moeilijk voor de klas.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(ANW)^(Wiktionary)

+ # awkward, troublesome, hard to deal with: ''Hij is een moeilijke klant.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(WNT)

+ # ''(moeilijk doen)'' to make difficulties, raise objections.^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # with difficulty: ''Ze kon moeilijk ademen.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(WNT)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' as an intensifier: extremely.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[moeilijkheid]]

+ * [[bemoeilijken]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[moeien]]

+ * [[moeite]]

+ * [[moe]]

+ * [[de|Mühe]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Het er moeilijk mee hebben'' means to find something hard to cope with or accept.^(Van Dale 2014) The colloquial pronunciation drops the glide: [ˈmu.lək].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}