lekker Dutch · revision 37364

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1240, Middle Dutch (Bernardus glossary, in derivatives)|origins=gem-pro *likkōną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈlɛ.kər/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lekker''' (comparative lekkerder, superlative lekkerst)^(Wiktionary)

+ Beside ''lekker'' stands ''lakker'', used especially in Brabant.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|lecker|t=greedy for good food; tasty]], derived from the Middle Dutch verb [[m|dum|lecken|t=to lick]], a variant of [[likken]].^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912) Kroonen reconstructs the adjective as [[gem-pro|*likkraz|alt=*likkra-|t=delicious]], formed with the suffix ⟨-ra-⟩ from the iterative verb [[m|gem-pro|*likkōną|t=to lick]], so that it first meant “lickable”.^(Kroonen 2013)^(Wiktionary) De Vries and De Tollenaere compare the suffix in [[la|macer|t=lean]] and [[wakker]].^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004|223) The same adjective is [[gml|lecker]] and [[gmh|lecker]] (modern [[de|lecker]]); [[sv|läcker]] was borrowed from Middle Low German.^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)

+

+ Beside the adjective Middle Dutch had a noun [[m|dum|lecker|t=glutton, rascal]], like [[goh|lecchāri]], an agent noun of the same verb.^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The word is first found in derivatives in the Bernardus glossary of 1240: ''leckerheit'' “gluttony” and ''leckere'' “glutton, lecher”.^(EWN) The adjective follows in 1270–1290 in the sense “greedy”: ''geen man en is so lecker als die giene die quaden adem heuet'' “no one is as greedy as he who has bad breath”.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first sense was “fond of good food”, and by extension “lustful”.^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971) The sense “pleasant to the taste” appears in 1350–1400, as in ''daer ic cnauwe iet leckers'' “where I might nibble something tasty”, and ''der lecker spise'' “that tasty food” (1393–1402).^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001) The old sense “fastidious, spoiled” was still in use around 1600 but became obsolete in early modern Dutch; it survives in [[lekkerbek]] “gourmet” (1659) and in [[verlekkerd]] “eager”.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+

+ From taste the word spread to anything agreeable, a pleasant smell, a nice feeling, an attractive person, and in the Netherlands to health: ''niet lekker zijn'' is to feel unwell, and colloquially to be not quite right in the head.^(ANW)^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary) The proverb ''lekker is maar een vinger lang'' is explained by the length of the tongue.^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)^(WNT) Stoett explains ''kiplekker'' “fit as a fiddle” as a pun on the two senses, healthy and tasty like a chicken.^(Stoett 1923) In Limburg dialects ''lekker'' is also the tongue.^(Debrabandere 2011)^(Weijnen 2003)

+

+ Danish ''lækker'', Norwegian ''lekker'' and Swedish ''läcker'' come from Dutch or Low German, Javanese has ''lèker'', and through Afrikaans ''lekker'' the word reached South African English.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1240 – The Bernardus glossary has ''leckerheit'' “gluttony” and ''leckere'' “glutton”.^(EWN)

+ * 1270–1290 – The adjective ''lecker'' “greedy” is recorded.^(EWN)

+ * 1350 – ''Lecker'' “pleasant to the taste” is first dated.^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ * 1548 – ''Adams lecker imbijt'' “Adam's tasty snack” is quoted.^(WNT)

+ * 1659 – ''Ioffrou Leckerbeck'' shows the compound ''lekkerbek''.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|tasty]], [[m|en|delicious]]: pleasant to the taste or smell: ''Wat ruikt die soep lekker!''^(Van Dale 2014)^(ANW)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Netherlands)'' nice, pleasant, comfortable: ''een lekker warm bad''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(ANW)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' physically attractive, [[m|en|sexy]].^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Netherlands, usually negative)'' well, in good health: ''Ik voel me niet lekker.''^(Wiktionary)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+ # ''(Netherlands, informal, negative)'' sane: ''niet lekker zijn'', to be not quite right in the head.^(ANW)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # to one's own satisfaction; also expressing glee: ''lekker puh!''^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # ''(ironic)'' very much: ''dank je lekker!'' “no thanks!”.^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lekkernij]]

+ * [[lekkers]]

+ * [[lekkerbek]]

+ * [[verlekkerd]]

+ * [[kiplekker]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[likken]]

+ * [[de|lecker]]

+ * [[en|lick]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Wiktionary also lists a rare noun ''lekker'' “leaker”, formed from ''lekken'' “to leak” with ''-er''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}