toekomste

Toekomste is a Dutch noun that denotes the future or future prospects. It is primarily encountered as an archaic or literary variant of the modern word toekomst. The form appears in older Dutch texts, including poetry, sermons, and historical chronicles, where spelling and inflection varied and the -e ending could be used in certain contexts.

In contemporary Dutch, toekomste is rarely used outside scholarly or stylistic contexts. Modern writers and speakers normally employ toekomst to mean “the future.” When toekomste is found today, it typically signals antiquarian or formal language, or a deliberate archaism in historical or literary works.

Etymology and relation to toekomst: the word is derived from the same root as toekomst, with toe- meaning “toward” and komst meaning “coming.” The variant toekomste reflects older orthographic practices and dialectal pronunciation. The gradual standardization of Dutch spelling led to a stronger preference for toekomst in most written forms, especially from the 19th century onward.

Overall, toekomste is recognized as part of the historical record of the Dutch language. It offers insight into older orthography and stylistic conventions, but in everyday use it has largely been superseded by the standard toekomst.