woordige

Woordige is a historical Dutch adjective that denotes a style or mode of expression characterized by the use of many words. In modern Dutch the form is rarely used outside linguistic or historical contexts, and it is typically regarded as archaic or literary.

Etymology and form: The word is built from the root woord meaning “word” and the adjectival suffix -ige, a common productive ending in Early Modern Dutch. The resulting term was used to describe language that is wordy or diffuse rather than concise.

Usage and meaning: In historical Dutch texts, woordige described speech or prose that relied on elaborate phrasing and extensive wording. It often carried a negative connotation, implying verbosity or lack of economy in expression. Because of shifts in style and taste, the term fell out of everyday usage and is primarily encountered in older writings or literary criticism.

Modern equivalents: Contemporary Dutch typically uses terms such as langdradig (long-winded), woordrijk (word-rich), or uitgebreid (expanded) to convey similar ideas. When appearing in modern scholarship, woordige is usually presented as an obsolete or historical descriptor rather than a standard contemporary term.

Geographic and contextual notes: The usage of woordige is associated with Dutch-language historical works rather than with current everyday language. It may appear in discussions of rhetoric, diction, or stylistic analysis of Early Modern Dutch prose.

See also: Dutch language history, archaic vocabulary, langdradig, woordrijk.