aanzienlijker

Aanzienlijker is the comparative form of the Dutch adjective aanzienlijk, meaning more substantial or considerable. It is used to indicate that one quantity, degree, or importance is greater than another.

Etymology and form: The base adjective aanzienlijk originates from the notion of being worthy of attention. The suffix -lijk marks the word as an adjective, and the comparative is formed with -er, yielding aanzienlijker. The word is commonly used in written and spoken Dutch to express a higher level of significance or size.

Usage notes: Aanzienlijker is typically employed to compare two items, events, or quantities. For example, De kosten zijn aanzienlijker dan verwacht (The costs are more substantial than expected). Een aanzienlijker bedrag is nodig om het project te voltooien (A more substantial amount is needed to complete the project). It can describe tangible measures (bedrag, kosten, groei) as well as abstract concepts (impact, belang). In some contexts, speakers may opt for phrases such as meer aanzienlijk or veel aanzienlijk to emphasize the degree, though aanzienlijker remains standard.

Related terms: A synonym commonly used in formal writing is aanmerkelijker. The base adjective aanzienlijk is often used in its own right to mean “considerable” or “notable,” as in een aanzienlijk bedrag. The superlative form is rare and typically expressed with phrases like het meest aanzienlijk or het meest aanzienlijke, depending on context.

See also: Dutch comparative form; adjectives ending in -lijk; related terms such as aanzienlijk and aanmerkelijk, which convey similar notions of degree and importance.