beloven Dutch · revision 37420

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1100, Old Dutch (Egmond)}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈloːvə(n)/^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''beloven'''^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|beloven]], [[inh|odt|bilōven|t=to renounce, give up]], formed [[af|nl|be-|loven]], the verb in its old sense “to promise, bind oneself”, which is also seen in [[verloven]] “to betroth”.^(EWN)^(ONW)^(De Vries 1971) The same formation is [[gml|beloven|t=to promise, betroth]] and [[ofs|bilovia|t=to fix, promise]] (modern [[fy|belove]]), while [[goh|gilobōn|t=to approve]] (modern [[de|geloben]]) has the prefix [[m|goh|gi-]].^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004|66) Middle Dutch used [[m|dum|geloven]] in the same sense, recorded even earlier (1236); the EWN compares English, where ⟨be-⟩ likewise replaced ⟨ge-⟩ in [[en|believe]].^(EWN)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)

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+ Franck–Van Wijk note that simple [[m|dum|loven]] “to promise” and the noun [[m|dum|lovede]] “promise, vow” were mainly northern, like the Frisian and Low German forms without a prefix.^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912) For the further history of the base see [[lof]].^(De Vries 1971)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The verb is first found around 1100 in the Egmond Williram, in a reflexive sense: ''wie scal ich nu mich belouuan'', “how shall I now free myself”, of renouncing a thing.^(ONW)^(EWN) The sense “to promise” is first recorded in the Bernardus glossary of about 1240, where it renders Latin ''devovere''.^(EWN)^(VMNW)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In 13th-century Middle Dutch ''beloven'' meant to make a solemn promise (1254, Middelburg), to promise a daughter in marriage, and to vow to God (1285); reflexively it meant “to rejoice, be content” (1265, Brabant).^(VMNW)^(EWN) The 1285 Rijmbijbel also uses it for “to praise, thank”.^(EWN) ''Geloven'' “to promise” was pushed out by ''beloven'', and the noun ''belofte'' “promise” followed (about 1475; earlier ''belof'', 1285).^(EWN)

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+ Since the 16th century ''iemand gouden bergen beloven'' “to promise someone mountains of gold” has rendered Latin ''montes auri polliceri''.^(Stoett 1923)^(WNT) ''Het beloofde land'' is the Promised Land of the Bible.^(WNT)^(Van Dale 2014) De Vreese condemned ''zich beloven'' “to resolve; to expect” as a gallicism after French ''se promettre''.^(De Vreese 1899) The verb was borrowed into Danish (''love''), Swedish (''loven'') and Negerhollands (''belof'').^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – Old Dutch ''bilōven'' “to renounce” is recorded in the Egmond Williram.^(ONW)

+ * 1236 – ''Geloven'' is used for “to promise”.^(EWN)

+ * c. 1240 – ''Belouen'' glosses Latin ''devovere'' in the Bernardus glossary.^(EWN)^(VMNW)

+ * 1269 – A charter records that people ''hebben ... beloeft'', have promised.^(EWN)

+ * 1285 – The Rijmbijbel uses the verb for a solemn vow, and the noun ''belof'' appears.^(EWN)

+ * c. 1475 – The noun ''belofte'' is first recorded.^(EWN)

+ * 1548 – ''Ic beloue hu'' “I promise you” in ordinary use.^(WNT)

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+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(transitive)'' to [[m|en|promise]], to bind oneself to do or give something: ''Ze beloofde haar moeder vroeg thuis te zijn.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(ANW)

+ # ''(of things)'' to give reason to hope or fear: ''Die donkere wolken beloven weinig goeds.''^(Van Dale 2014)

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+ ==Word family==

+ * [[belofte]]

+ * [[veelbelovend]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[loven]]

+ * [[geloven]]

+ * [[verloven]]

+ * [[lof]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Beloofd is beloofd'' “a promise is a promise” is said when someone keeps a promise, or to remind them to.^(Van Dale 2014) ''Dat belooft wat!'' predicts that more is to come.^(Van Dale 2014)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}