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eigen-

quickinfo

The prefix eigen- (related to the adjective eigen own) can form adjectives on the base of other adjectives. This input, however, is restricted to adjectively used past participles. The prefix can be paraphrased by the word sels self. An example is breide knitted > eigenbreide self-knitted.

General properties
Phonological properties

[+]General properties

The prefix eigen- has from the adjective eigen own as its ancestor, and can therefore also be considered a prefixoid. As is the case with the prefix nij-, it only occurs with adjectively used past participles. The prefix could be paraphrased by the word sels self. Here are some examples:

Table 1

Base form	Derivation
oanret constructed	eigenoanret self-constructed
boud build	eigenboud self-built
bakt baked	eigenbakt home-baked
broud brewed	eigenbroud self-brewed
makke made	eigenmakke home-made

Although clearly related to the adjective eigen own, this word can not be used in a related verbal construction, as in *ik ha de trui eigen breide I have the sweater own knitted. Rather, in such a verbal construction sels self is preferred. Given this penchant, one can also encounter formations like selsmakke home-made or selsbreide self-knitted. It must be observed, however, that in these formations the relation between sels and the past participle is less strong than between eigen- and the past participle. The latter type does not allow intermediate material:

De sels foar in beppesizzer breide trui

the self for a grandma.speaker knitted sweater

The self-knitted sweater for a grandchild

*De eigen foar in beppesizzer breide trui

the own for a grandma.speaker knitted sweater

The self-knitted sweater for a grandchild

These are good reasons for arriving at the conclusion that eigen- is a prefix, as in de eigenbreide trui the self-knitted sweater the self-knitted sweater, and sels is not. The latter therefore should be spelled as a separate word, as in de sels breide trui.