berust

Berust is a Dutch verb meaning to be resigned or to content oneself with something, typically by accepting a situation calmly. It is often used to express acceptance of an outcome or circumstance without protest, and is commonly found in more formal or literary contexts. The construction berusten in takes a noun or noun phrase to indicate what is being accepted, as in berusten in het lot or berusten in de uitkomst.

Etymology and usage

Berust derives from Middle Dutch berusten, related to rust, meaning rest or calm. The sense evolved from a literal notion of resting to a metaphorical sense of resting one’s mind or will in a given condition. In modern Dutch, berust is considered relatively formal or literary, and is less common in casual speech. The related noun berusting denotes the act or state of contentment or resignation, while berustend describes a person who is resigned or composed.

Examples and nuances

- Hij berust in zijn lot. (He is resigned to his fate.)

- Zij beruste in de uitkomst van het onderzoek. (She accepted the outcome of the investigation.)

Berust is often contrasted with terms for active acceptance or adjustment, such as aanvaarden or zich neerleggen bij, which can carry a slightly different nuance of agency or adaptation.

See also

Berusting, berustend. These related forms cover the state of contentment or resignation and the descriptive adjective form, respectively.