Magerder

Magerder is the comparative form of the Dutch adjective mager, meaning lean, thin, or low in fat or content. It is used to describe a relative difference between two or more items, indicating that one is leaner or less fatty than another.

Etymology and form: The word derives from the same root as mager and uses the standard Dutch comparative suffix -der to express a higher degree of the quality. It is related to cognate forms in other Germanic languages and to the English meager/meagre through common older roots that denote thinness or scarcity.

Usage: Magerder is commonly employed to compare nutritional or physical characteristics, such as food, meat, portions, or bodies. Examples include: “Dit vlees is magerder dan vorig jaar” (This meat is leaner than last year) and “Na het dieet is hij magerder geworden” (After the diet, he has become leaner). The word can also describe quantities or standards, for instance a “magerder budget” or a “magerder portie.” In everyday speech, speakers may also opt for phrases like “meer mager” in contexts where the standard comparative form feels less natural.

Grammar: In Dutch, magerder functions as a regular comparative adjective. The corresponding superlative is magerste (the leanest). Like other adjectives, its usage respects standard Dutch agreement rules with nouns, adjectives, and determiners, but the comparative form itself remains magerder across genders and numbers.

See also: mager, meager/meagre, lean, diet.