belangrijk Dutch · revision 37389

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1774}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈlɑŋ.rɛi̯k/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''belangrijk''' (comparative belangrijker, superlative belangrijkst)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a derivative [[af|nl|belang|-rijk]], formed in the 18th century.^(EWN)^(ANW)^(Wiktionary) The Philippa dictionary takes the second part as the adjective [[rijk]] “rich”; the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal notes that speakers hardly think of that meaning, so that the second part here comes close to a suffix, and some pronounce it with a weak vowel.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+

+ The base noun [[belang]] is [[m|dum|belanc|t=advantage, gain]], recorded from 1265–70, derived from the verb [[m|dum|belangen|t=to long for]], which was formed from [[be-]] and the adjective [[lang]].^(EWN)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Philippa dictionary dates the adjective to 1785, but an earlier superlative ''belangrykste'' was found in a periodical of 1774.^(EWN) The first quotation in the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, from 1784, has the old sense “arousing interest and sympathy”: ''Welk een belangryk gelaat!'', “what a touching face!”.^(WNT)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective first followed the senses of ''belang'' “interest, concern”, meaning roughly what French ''intéressant'' means; that sense is now obsolete.^(WNT) From the 1790s the main sense was “weighty, of great importance”, mostly of things, less commonly of a person of standing.^(WNT) By 1840 it could express degree, “considerable, rather large”, and, from the late 19th century it was used as an adverb, “to a great extent”, as in a fortune increased considerably (1896).^(WNT)

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+ In young people's language the ironic ''lekker belangrijk'' means “totally uninteresting”.^(Van Dale 2014) Afrikaans has [[m|af|belangrik]].^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1774 – The superlative ''belangrykste'' is the earliest known record.^(EWN)

+ * 1784 – ''Belangryk'' in the sense “touching, arousing interest”.^(WNT)

+ * 1793 – The sense “of great importance”.^(WNT)

+ * 1840 – The sense “considerable”, of a double chin.^(WNT)

+ * 1896 – Adverbial ''belangrijk'' “considerably”.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|important]], of great significance: ''Dit gesprek is belangrijk voor de toekomst van het bedrijf.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(ANW)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|considerable]], sizeable.^(Van Dale 2014)^(WikiWoordenboek)

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+ ===Adverb===

+ # To a great extent, considerably.^(Van Dale 2014)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[belangrijkheid]]

+ * [[onbelangrijk]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[belang]]

+ * [[belangstelling]]

+ * [[rijk]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}