bestemor
Norwegian Bokmål edit
Etymology edit
From beste (“the best”) + mor (“mother”), after Dutch and Middle Low German beste moder, literally "best mother". The use of beste- may be a reference to the state of being a generation older than the parents (compare the use of grand- in grandmother).
Noun edit
bestemor m or f (definite singular bestemoren or bestemora, indefinite plural bestemødre or bestemødrer, definite plural bestemødrene)
- a grandmother (paternal or maternal; mother of someone’s parent)
Related terms edit
See also edit
References edit
- “bestemor” in The Ordnett Dictionary
- “bestemor” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “annexe”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Norwegian Nynorsk edit
Etymology edit
From beste (“the best”) + mor (“mother”), after Dutch and Middle Low German beste moder, literally "best mother". The use of beste- may be a reference to the state of being a generation older than the parents (compare the use of grand- in grandmother).
Noun edit
bestemor f (definite singular bestemora or bestemori, indefinite plural bestemødrer, definite plural bestemødrene)
- a grandmother (paternal or maternal; mother of someone’s parent)
Usage notes edit
Note the form in brackets, they indicate that the form is optional for students only and are not allowed in official texts. These forms are either conservative (from or close to traditional Nynorsk) or radical (from or close to Bokmål) and are in Norwegian called klammeformer ("bracket forms") and originated from the idea to eventually merge Bokmål and Nynorsk into one written language. This idea was officially abandoned in 2005, followed by the system being abolished in Bokmål, but it was kept in Nynorsk.
Related terms edit
See also edit
References edit
- “bestemor” in The Ordnett Dictionary
- “bestemor” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “annexe”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.