omgeef

Omgeef is the singular imperative form of the Dutch verb omgeven, meaning to surround or encircle. It is used to issue a direct command to surround something or someone. In contemporary standard Dutch, the imperative omgeef is rare and is generally found only in historical, literary, or stylistic contexts where an archaic tone is intended.

Omgeven itself is a compound verb built from the prefix om- and the verb geven (to give), with a meaning that extends beyond the literal act of giving to the sense of surrounding or enclosing. The participle form is omgeven, and its use in sentences often centers on the state of being surrounded, as in phrases like “de stad is omgeven door water en muren.” The imperative omgeef represents a historical or formal command form that is not commonly used in everyday speech.

In Dutch-language literature and historical texts, omgeef may appear to convey a martial or ceremonial exhortation to encircle a target, such as a besieging force ordering troops to surround a fortress. Because of its antiquated register, modern Dutch preferred more contemporary equivalents depending on context, such as surrounding or encircling through other verbs.

See also: Dutch verb omgeven, Dutch imperatives, old Dutch language, Germanic compound verbs.