diens
Afrikaans edit
Alternative forms edit
- diins (obsolete)
Etymology edit
From Dutch dienst, from Middle Dutch dienst, from Old Dutch *thionost, from Proto-Germanic *þewanōstaz.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
diens (plural dienste)
Derived terms edit
Catalan edit
Noun edit
diens
Dutch edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Determiner edit
diens
- (demonstrative, dated) his, the latter's (genitive masculine and neuter singular of die)
- Samen met de Nederlander Henri Albert Gosse, Jacques Paul en diens zoon Nicolas begon Schweppe in 1790 in Zwitserland een mineraalwaterfabriek.
- Together with the Dutch Henri Albert Gosse, Jacques Paul and the latter's son Nicolas, Schweppe began a mineral water factory in 1790 in Switzerland.
- (demonstrative) the latter's (genitive singular of die)
Usage notes edit
Diens is used in a similar way as the possessive determiner zijn. It is rare in spoken Dutch, but used occasionally in writing to avoid confusion. Compare:
- Hij vertelde van zijn zoon en zijn vrouw. – He told about his son and his (own) wife.
- Hij vertelde van zijn zoon en diens vrouw. – He told about his son and the latter's wife.
The corresponding plural and feminine form is dier, but it is not uncommon to see "diens" used for all genders.[1]
References edit
Swedish edit
Noun edit
diens