zediglijk

Zediglijk is a historical Dutch word that functions as an adjective and, in some contexts, as an adverb meaning decently or in a proper, chaste manner. It describes behavior, speech, or appearance considered conforming to conventional standards of propriety.

Usage history: The form is largely obsolete in modern Dutch and appears chiefly in Early Modern Dutch and religious or moralizing literature from the 17th to 19th centuries. Contemporary Dutch would more commonly use zedelijk, zedig, or fatsoenlijk to convey similar meaning.

Etymology: Zediglijk appears to be built from the base zedig or zedelijk (decent, virtuous) with the suffix -lijk, a common productive suffix that yields adjectives and occasionally adverbs. The exact origin is sparsely documented, but it belongs to a family of adjectives that express moral quality and propriety. It shares semantic ground with related terms such as zedelijk, fatsoenlijk, and beschaafd.

Usage notes: When encountered, zediglijk often carries a formal or antiquated tone, sometimes adding a moralizing or pedantic flavour to a sentence. It is not a term used in everyday speech by contemporary speakers.

See also: zedelijk, zedig, fatsoenlijk, beschaafd.