beschaven

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch beschaven. Equivalent to be- +‎ schaven. The sense “to civilize” developed from the sense of “to smoothen”, implying that one smoothens and polishes up a person. Compare French poli.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bəˈsxaːvə(n)/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: be‧scha‧ven
• Rhymes: -aːvən

Verb

beschaven

1. (transitive) to civilize
2. (transitive, obsolete) to smoothen by scraping (with a plane)
3. (transitive, obsolete) to rob, to bereave

Conjugation

Conjugation of beschaven (weak, prefixed)
infinitive	beschaven
past singular	beschaafde
past participle	beschaafd
infinitive	beschaven
gerund	beschaven n
	present tense	past tense
1st person singular	beschaaf	beschaafde
2nd person sing. (jij)	beschaaft, beschaaf2	beschaafde
2nd person sing. (u)	beschaaft	beschaafde
2nd person sing. (gij)	beschaaft	beschaafde
3rd person singular	beschaaft	beschaafde
plural	beschaven	beschaafden
subjunctive sing.1	beschave	beschaafde
subjunctive plur.1	beschaven	beschaafden
imperative sing.	beschaaf
imperative plur.1	beschaaft
participles	beschavend	beschaafd
1) Archaic. 2) In case of inversion.

Derived terms

• beschaafd
• beschaver
• beschaving