afhandelde

Afhandelde is the past tense form of the Dutch verb afhandelen, meaning to deal with, handle, or settle a matter. The verb is separable; in present tense you typically say ik handel af or hij handelt af. In the past tense the standard form is handelde af (for example, Hij handelde de zaak af). The past participle is afgehandeld, used in perfect tenses such as heeft afgehandeld. The one-word form afhandelde is not standard in modern Dutch and may appear only in archaic texts or as a nonstandard variant.

Etymology and sense

The word combines the prefix af- with handelen (to act or conduct business). The prefix signals completion or conclusion, so afhandelen conveys finishing the handling of a matter. This nuance is reflected in both formal administrative language and everyday speech.

Usage and examples

Afhandelen is commonly used when describing the processing or conclusion of tasks, applications, disputes, or transactions. Examples include: De notaris handelde de transactie af. Zij heeft de klacht afgehandeld. Na twee weken heeft hij het dossier afgehandeld. In practice, verbs like afhandelen appear in various registers, from bureaucratic phrasing to journalistic and informal contexts.

Related terms

Afhandeling refers to the act of handling or processing a matter. Afwikkeling emphasizes settlement or completion of a process, often in legal or procedural contexts. Afdoening is another related term, often used to denote disposition or resolution of a case. These terms share the core idea of finishing business, but carry slightly different nuance or emphasis depending on context.