fout Dutch · revision 37422

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1265–1270, Middle Dutch|origins=la fallō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fɑu̯t/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fout''' ''f'' (plural fouten, diminutive foutje n)^(Wiktionary)

+ The older spelling ''faute'' (also ''faulte'') was in use until the 18th century.^(EWN)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|dum|faute]], [[bor|fro|faute|t=sin against religious or moral rules; adultery]].^(EWN)^(Wiktionary) The French word developed from [[la-vul|*fallita]], the feminine noun use of [[m|la-vul|*fallitus]], a regularised form of the irregular past participle of [[la|fallō|t=to deceive, let down]].^(EWN)^(De Vries 1971)^(De Vries & De Tollenaere 2004|130) Van Veen and Van der Sijs connect it instead with Medieval Latin [[m|la-med|falta]], [[m|la-med|defalta]] “failure to keep a promise”.^(Van Veen & Van der Sijs 1997) The same French word gave [[enm|faute]] (modern [[en|fault]]).^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)

+

+ The spelling ⟨faulte⟩ may show the influence of Medieval Latin, but more probably follows the Middle French spelling.^(EWN) The old ⟨au⟩ gave way to ⟨ou⟩, probably because ⟨au⟩ otherwise occurred in Dutch only in the ending ⟨-auw⟩.^(EWN) The adjective “wrong” grew out of the noun in predicate position, ⟨die faut is⟩ (1548), and only later came before nouns, ⟨een foute optelling⟩ (1906); the synonym [[foutief]], from French [[m|fr|fautif]], is older in that position.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The word is first recorded in 1265–1270, in the plural ''fauten'' “failings, imperfections, guilt”.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001) In 1284 a charter uses ''faute'' for a failure to pay: ''bi fauten van onsen paiemente'', “if our payments should fail”.^(EWN)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle Dutch and early modern Dutch the word meant lack or default, as in ''by faute van'' “for want of” (1598) and ''zonder faute'' “without fail” (1566).^(WNT) From there it came to mean a defect of character (1580) or of a thing, and a blameworthy act (1567); “an inaccuracy in a piece of work” is recorded in 1613.^(WNT)^(EWN) As in French, the meaning widened from “failure to meet the rules” to “error”.^(EWN)

+

+ In modern Dutch the adjective has further senses: ''fout in de oorlog'' is said of someone who collaborated with the German occupier in the Second World War, and colloquially ''fout'' means tasteless or not done, as in ''foute kleren'' and ''foute grappen''.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary) ''In de fout gaan'' “to make a mistake” came from harness racing, where a trotter breaking into a gallop was said to go wrong; it is recorded from the 1970s.^(Reinsma 1975)^(Reinsma 1984)^(Van Dale 2014) The word was borrowed into Papiamentu (''fout''), Sranan Tongo (''fowtu'') and Negerhollands.^(Van der Sijs 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1265–1270 – Middle Dutch ''fauten'' “failings” is first recorded.^(EWN)^(Van der Sijs 2001)

+ * 1284 – ''Faute'' is used of a failure to pay.^(EWN)

+ * 1548 – The word is used as a predicate adjective, “wrong”.^(EWN)

+ * 1566 – ''Zonder faute'' “without fail” is recorded.^(WNT)

+ * 1613 – ''Fout'' “an error in a piece of work” is recorded.^(EWN)

+ * 1906 – ''Een foute optelling'' shows the adjective before a noun.^(EWN)

+ * 1974 – ''In de fout gaan'' “to slip up” is recorded in a news magazine.^(Reinsma 1975)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|mistake]], [[m|en|error]], an inaccuracy: ''Er staan drie fouten in deze brief.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|fault]] or defect; a bad trait.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A wrong act; blame: ''het is mijn fout'', it is my fault.^(Van Dale 2014)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' The difference between an approximation and the true value.^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|wrong]], incorrect: ''Dat antwoord is fout.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Not as it should be;^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary) ''(colloquial)'' tasteless, [[m|en|cheesy]] or not politically correct.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(historical)'' Having sided with the German occupier or with the far right in the Second World War.^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(WikiWoordenboek)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[denkfout]]

+ * [[drukfout]]

+ * [[rekenfout]]

+ * [[spelfout]]

+ * [[taalfout]]

+ * [[schrijffout]]

+ * [[karakterfout]]

+ * [[foutloos]]

+ * [[foutparkeerder]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[foutief]]

+ * [[falen]]

+ * [[en|fault]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}