tegenspoed

Tegenspoed is a Dutch noun that denotes misfortune, adversity, or a period of hardship that disrupts plans or wellbeing. It can refer to a single unfortunate event or to sustained difficulties such as financial trouble, illness, or personal upheaval. In everyday language, tegenspoed carries a neutral to formal tone and is often used in essays, journalism, or literary prose to describe unfavorable circumstances.

Etymology and sense: The word combines tegen- meaning “against” with spoed, a historical term for fortune or prosperity. In older Dutch, spoed referred to luck or well-being, so tegenspoed literally signified being against good fortune. Over time the meaning shifted to denote adversity or misfortune in general, while spoed in contemporary usage is more commonly associated with urgency.

Usage and nuance: Tegenspoed can describe external events as well as the subjective experience of hardship. It is often used with verbs such as ondervinden (to experience), doorstaan (to endure), or overwinnen (to overcome) when discussing coping, resilience, or moral and emotional responses to difficulties. Tegenspoed is sometimes paired with phrases that emphasize duration or magnitude, such as langdurig tegenspoed or grote tegenspoed.

Cultural and literary context: In Dutch literature and philosophy, tegenspoed is a recurring theme that invites reflection on fate, virtue, and endurance. Religious or moral discourse may frame tegenspoed as a trial or test of character, challenging individuals to respond with perseverance or humility.

See also: teg en slag; tegenslag is often close in meaning, though tegenslag typically emphasizes a specific setback rather than ongoing adversity.

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