eenigen

Eenigen is a Dutch adjective that is now largely archaic or restricted to literary and historical contexts. In older texts it functioned as a determiner meaning “the sole” or “the only,” and in some instances it carried a sense close to “certain” or “particular” depending on the surrounding phrasing. In contemporary standard Dutch, the form is rarely used outside quotations, translations, or stylistic effects, where it is generally replaced by more common forms such as enig, enkele, of uitsluitend.

Etymology and relation to other forms: Eenigen is formed from een meaning “one” with the suffix -igen, a pattern attested in early Dutch and in cognate Germanic forms. It is related to the German words einige and einig, which in modern German mean “some” or “several” or, in the adjective form, “certain/some.” The Dutch equivalents most often seen today are enig, enige, or enkele, depending on the intended nuance.

Usage and examples in literature: The term appears in older legal, theological, and narrative prose to emphasize exclusivity or selectiveness, or to lend a ceremonial tone. Its appearance signals a historical or formal register and may be encountered in translations or quotations from earlier periods. In modern texts, authors typically choose more common alternatives to convey the same ideas.

Modern status and references: Eenigen is not part of everyday modern Dutch vocabulary. When encountered, it is usually for stylistic effect or to reflect historical language. For further study, consult Dutch etymology references such as the Etymologiebank and dictionaries covering historical Dutch usage.