eenhede

Eenhede is a historical Dutch noun that denotes unity, wholeness, or a single unit. In modern Dutch the standard term is eenheid; eenhede survives as an archaic spelling found in older texts and in some religious or regional writings. The form appears in early modern Dutch and likely represents an orthographic variant of eenheid rather than a distinct lexeme.

Etymologically, eenhede is built from the prefix een- (one) combined with a suffix related to state or condition, a pattern that parallels other Dutch words historically linked to het/heid. Over time the spelling evolved toward eenheid in standard usage, and eenhede became increasingly confined to historical contexts.

In usage, eenhede often signals the concept of unity or indivisibility, especially in religious or metaphysical discourse (for example, the eenhede of God or the eenhede van het universum). In secular contexts it can indicate a single measuring unit or a single entity within a set. In modern texts the typical forms are eenheid (singular) and eenheden (plural).

Current status and references: today, eenhede is rarely used outside philological discussion, historical quotations, or attempts to reproduce period language. Dictionaries typically label it as archaic, obsolete, or regional. For contemporary purposes, the modern equivalents are eenheid and eenheden, while historical orthography may retain eenhede in quotes or editions aiming to reflect older Dutch. See also eenheid; eenheden; historical Dutch orthography.

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