toebehoorde

Toebehoorde is the past tense form associated with the Dutch verb toebehoren, meaning to belong to or to pertain to. The infinitive is toebehoren; present tense forms include ik behoor toe, jij behoort toe, hij behoort toe. In standard modern Dutch the past tense is normally written as two separate words: behoorde toe (singular) or hoorden toe (plural). The fused form toebehoorde exists mainly as an archaic or nonstandard spelling and is rarely encountered in contemporary usage.

Usage of the term centers on indicating possession or affiliation in the past. It is commonly found in formal, historical, or legal-style writing. Examples include: “Het huis behoorde toe aan de familie” and “De bezittingen behoorden toe aan de kerk.” In everyday modern Dutch, the two-word past tense form is generally preferred.

Etymology and spelling notes: the verb toebehoren is the base, with past tense formed through the auxiliary verb behoorde/hoorden toe. The one-word form toebehoorde is largely historical and not standard in current usage, though it may appear in older texts or regional writing.

Related terms include the infinitive toebehoren and the verb behooren. See also for cross-reference: toebehoren, behooren, toe.