ophoudt

Ophoudt is a historical or variant form of the Dutch verb ophouden, meaning to stop or cease. In contemporary Dutch orthography, the third-person singular present tense is written as hij houdt op, with the prefix op- separated from the main verb. The form ophoudt occurs mainly in older texts or in philological discussions, reflecting earlier spelling conventions in which prefixes were less routinely separated in written forms. The standard infinitive is ophouden.

Etymology and form: ophoudt derives from the prefix op- (a directional or aspectual prefix) combined with houden (to hold). The construction is part of a broader pattern in Germanic languages where prefixes attach to verbs to modify meaning, with op- contributing a sense of cessation or completion in this context.

Usage and notes: ophouden means to stop doing something, often followed by another element such as a gerund or preposition (for example, houden op met [something] to stop doing something). The modern preferred structure is houden op met ..., rather than ophoudt in a single word. The single-word form ophoudt is primarily of historical interest and may be found in older editions or linguistic discussions about Dutch verb forms.

See also: ophouden, stoppen, beëindigen, Dutch language, Dutch grammar.