ernsteren

Ernsteren is a Dutch verb that denotes the act of becoming more serious or of making something more serious in tone. It is not a common term in contemporary standard Dutch and is usually encountered in older literary Dutch, regional dialects, or specialized stylistic contexts. In modern usage, speakers are more likely to use verbs like ernstiger maken or de toon verhogen to convey a similar idea.

Etymology and form: ernsteren appears to be derived from the noun or adjective ernst (seriousness) with the productive suffix -eren, a pattern used in Dutch to form verbs that express causing a change of state or becoming that state. The hypothetical base form would suggest a meaning along the lines of “to make serious” or “to become more serious.” The verb is predominantly literary or archaic in tone today, and its exact attestation varies by corpus and region.

Usage and nuances: In texts where it appears, ernsteren tends to modify tone, discourse, or atmosphere. Common contexts include rhetoric, narration, or dialogue in which a speaker or author intends to deepen gravity or solemnity. Examples in contemporary writing are rare and may sound marked or old-fashioned to many readers. Typical constructions would involve a direct object related to tone or mood, such as de toon ernsteren (to render the tone more serious) or de sfeer ernsteren (to deepen the seriousness of the atmosphere).

Attestation and regional notes: Ernsteren is considered obscure outside of historical or dialectal Dutch. It does not form part of standard modern dictionaries and is often cited as a stylistic or archaising choice when it appears.

See also: ernst, serieus, ernstigheid, taalvariant, dialect.