geheim Dutch · revision 37395

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1588, Kiliaan|origins=gem-pro *haimaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɣəˈɦɛi̯m/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''geheim''' (comparative geheimer, superlative geheimst); as a noun ''het geheim'' (plural geheimen, diminutive geheimpje).^(Wiktionary)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|de|geheim]], taken over in the 16th century.^(De Vries 1971)^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997)^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(Wiktionary) In late Middle High German [[m|gmh|geheim]] meant “belonging to the house”, then “familiar, intimate” and finally “hidden from the outside world”.^(De Vries 1971)^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004|135) The word is formed with the prefix [[ge-]] from [[heem|t=home]], so that it first meant “belonging to the narrow circle of the household”, the opposite of public.^(EWN)^(WNT)^(Vercoullie 1925) The function of the prefix is not clear.^(EWN)^(WNT) The base goes back to [[gem-pro|*haimaz|alt=*haima-|t=dwelling place]], the source of [[de|Heim]] and [[en|home]].^(EWN)

+

+ The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal notes that Middle Dutch used [[heimelijk]] for this meaning, formed from the same stem in another way.^(WNT)^(EWN) Kiliaan in 1588 labels the word German and Saxon, which shows that it was then only regional.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Kiliaan records ''ghe-heym'' in 1588 with the Latin glosses “secretus, familiaris”, “hidden; intimate”.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)^(WNT) In 1625 ''sijn' geheymen raed'' are the counsellors in someone's confidence, and a text of 1686 speaks of revealing ''geheyme saecken'', secret matters.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word spread slowly: Plantijn's dictionary of 1573 does not have it and lists many phrases under ''heymelick'' instead, and the States Bible uses only ''heimelijk''.^(WNT) The noun, the adjective used substantively, appears in 1620 (''t geheym van mijne dromen'', “the secret of my dreams”), while the older ''geheimenisse'' “mystery” is recorded in 1573.^(EWN)^(WNT) ''In het geheim'' “in secret” is recorded in 1842, and [[geheimzinnig]] “mysterious”, literally “with a hidden meaning”, in 1812.^(WNT)^(EWN)

+

+ In the 19th century the adjective is used of closed sessions (''geheim comité'', 1877), of secret services (1850) and of secret marriages (1836).^(WNT) Today it is common in ''geheim agent'' “spy” and ''de geheime dienst'' “the secret service”.^(Van Dale 2014) ''Een openbaar geheim'' “an open secret” is a translation of Italian ''il pubblico secreto''.^(Van der Sijs 2005)

+

+ Dutch passed the word on to Frisian, Negerhollands, Javanese ([[m|jv|gehèm]]), Madurese and Surinamese Javanese.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1573 – ''Geheimenisse'' “mystery” is recorded.^(EWN)

+ * 1588 – Kiliaan lists ''ghe-heym'' as a German and Saxon word.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * 1620 – The noun ''geheim'' “secret” appears.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+ * 1625 – ''Sijn' geheymen raed'' “his confidential counsellors” is recorded.^(EWN)

+ * 1812 – ''Geheimzinnig'' “mysterious” is recorded.^(EWN)

+ * 1842 – ''In het geheim'' “in secret” is recorded.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|secret]], deliberately kept hidden: ''een geheime afspraak''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(WikiWoordenboek)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # secretly.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # a secret, something that is or must be kept hidden: ''Kun je een geheim bewaren?''^(Van Dale 2014)^(WikiWoordenboek)^(Wiktionary)

+ # a [[m|en|mystery]], something not fully understandable: ''de geheimen van het heelal''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[geheimzinnig]]

+ * [[geheimenis]]

+ * [[geheimhouden]]

+ * [[geheimschrift]]

+ * [[geheimschrijver]]

+ * [[familiegeheim]]

+ * [[levensgeheim]]

+ * [[bedgeheim]]

+ * [[hartsgeheim]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[heem]]

+ * [[heimelijk]]

+ * [[de|geheim]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Geen geheim maken van iets'' is to admit something openly.^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}