geweigeren

Geweigeren is a Dutch linguistic term tied to the verb weigeren, meaning to refuse or to decline. In standard Dutch, the past participle used in perfect and passive constructions is geweigerd, as in De aanvraag is geweigerd (The request has been refused). The form geweigeren itself is not used as a finite verb in the language; instead, it is the base verb weigeren from which forms are derived.

Etymology and form. Weigeren comes from Dutch roots shared with related Germanic languages; the prefix ge- is a common Dutch pattern for forming past participles and adjectives. The typical past participle spelling is geweigerd, which is used with auxiliary zijn or hebben to form tenses (e.g., De beslissing is geweigerd; De autoriteit heeft geweigerd te antwoorden). The present tense remains weiger, weigert, weigeren, etc.

Usage and meaning. Weigeren denotes an act of refusal, whether in everyday, administrative, or legal contexts. Geweigerd describes something that has been refused, such as a request, admission, or permission. The verb is commonly used with infinitives to express refusal to perform an action (bijv. Ik weiger te antwoorden) and with past participle to report a completed refusal (bijv. De vergunning is geweigerd).

Related terms. The noun form is weigering (the act of refusing or a refusal). Related phrases include weigeren te + infinitive to indicate a deliberate refusal to perform an action, and the passive construction with geweigerd to describe a refused item or decision.

See also. weigering; weigeren; geweigerd (past participle).