Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
-wijs. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-wijs, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-wijs in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-wijs you have here. The definition of the word
-wijs will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
-wijs, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Dutch
Etymology
See wijze.
Pronunciation
Suffix
-wijs
- -wise; forms adverbs from adjectives.
Usage notes
- As these compounds essentially represent univerbations of genitive absolute phrases (e.g. spelender wijs "in a playing manner" -> spelenderwijs), the preceding adjective or participle requires the feminine genitive singular ending -er (as wijze is feminine and the preceding adjective or participle must be congruent with it).
- As the genitive is not in use anymore in modern Dutch (except vestigially) and has been only dimly known among the general public since the second half of the twentieth century, new words with this suffix contain the genitive ending -er not because they represent a genuine univerbation of a previously separate genitive absolute phrase, but because they are derived by analogy with other words formed in this way.
Derived terms