zede

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzeːdə/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ze‧de
• Rhymes: -eːdə

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch sēde, from Old Dutch sido, from Proto-Germanic *siduz. Compare German Sitte.

Noun

zede f (plural zeden)

1. a norms or habit practiced by a certain people that is considered to be just and desirable by them
2. (in the plural) mores, especially sexual mores
   • 2016 May 15, “Schepen, supporters en smokkelwaar: de geboorte van Het Legioen”, in NOS:

     Tijdens de vaart bleef het vertier niet beperkt tot voetbal. Er waren ook dames van lichte zeden (die zouden dan weer via Amsterdam gekomen zijn), er was een priester en een dominee aan boord voor-het-geval-dat en musicus Cor Steyn hief wel duizend keer het 'Hand in hand' aan op zijn hammondorgel.

     Entertainment wasn't confined to football during the voyage. There were prostitutes (who are said to have come from Amsterdam) as well, there was a priest and a minister just in case and musician Cor Steyn began playing 'Hand in hand' over a thousand times on his Hammond organ.

   lichte zeden ― loose sexual morals

   zedenpolitie ― police unit focusing on sex crimes

   1. someone's conduct in moral respect.

Usage notes

The word is mostly used in its plural form. As a consequence, the plural is sometimes reinterpreted as a singular in some dialects, giving rise to a new plural zedens. Such a usage is not widespread and is not considered standard.

Derived terms

Etymology 2

From zieden.

Noun

zede f (plural zeden)

1. (obsolete) A portion of treacle that is heated in one container during the production of sugar.

Anagrams

• deze