Zijnreeds

Zijnreeds is a term that appears in some older Dutch texts, often in the context of legal or administrative documents. It is a compound word formed from "zijn" (his) and "reeds" (already). The literal translation would be "his already."

The precise meaning and usage of "zijnreeds" can vary depending on the specific historical context in which it is found. Generally, it functions as an adverbial phrase indicating that something has already occurred or been established on behalf of a particular male individual. It might be used to denote that a right, obligation, or possession previously belonged to or was enacted by someone.

In modern Dutch, "zijnreeds" is considered archaic and is rarely used. It has largely been replaced by more straightforward phrasing. For instance, depending on the intended meaning, phrases like "reeds van hem" (already of him), "al bezeten door hem" (already possessed by him), or simply placing "reeds" in a different position within the sentence would convey the same idea more clearly. Understanding "zijnreeds" is primarily useful for historical linguistic study and for deciphering older documents.