Dutch On-  and -Loos

on- 2

-loos 2

tenzij 2 'unless'
Tenzij je 'n beter idee hebt 2 3 Unless you have a better idea

niet 2

geen

Het voorvoegsel on- 2 of het achtervoegsel -loos 2 geven een woord de tegenovergestelde of negatieve betekenis.
For instance, both ongenadig 2 3 and genadeloos mean 'merciless' (from (de) genade 2 'mercy') - but it's not always that straightforward: bewust is 'aware, conscious' and bewusteloos means 'unconscious: knocked out' but onbewust 2 means 'unconscious: without thinking, not aware ‑>>

For almost all the on--words I immediately see the original word; with the -loos-words that is less, and for many of the ont--words I do not recognize a root word, or the word that comes to mind doesn't make sense. I guess they're often from words that are no longer in common use.
This page is an introduction - it's far from a complete collection of these words.

(het) tegenovergestelde 2 opposite
(het) voorvoegsel 2 prefix
(het) achtervoegsel 2 3 suffix
origineel original
(de) betekenis 2 meaning
de oorspronkelijke betekenis 2 3 the original meaning tegenovergesteld (tegenovergestelde 2) opposite
negatief 2 3 (negatieve 2) negative

This page will introduce or re-introduce you to some on-  and loos-words and their roots, showing where they come from, how they are derived - to deepen your understanding of the Dutch language

Adjectives' E-ending

the: de 2 / het 2 3 - 't ->>
Plurals always take 'de'
a: (een) - 'n / one: één 2 3

On-

onaangenaam 2 3 4 (onaangename 2 3) unpleasant, uncomfortable
een onaangename verrassing 2 an unpleasant surprise aangenaam 2 (aangename 2 3) pleasant, pleasing, comfortable
aangenaam kennis te maken 2 3 pleased to meet you een aangename temperatuur a pleasant, comfortable temperature For examples, generally follow the links ‑>> (if any)

onaanvaardbaar 2 3 unacceptable
aanvaarden 2 to accept

onaardig 2 3 unkind
aardig 2 3 (aardig / aardige 2) kind, nice, friendly ‑>>

onaf 2 3 unfinished, not ready
af finished, ready ‑>>
onafgemaakt 2 3 unfinished - German: 'unvollendet' afmaken 2 to finish ‑>>
maken to make ‑>>
See also  'onvoltooid' - below

onafhankelijk independent
(de) onafhankelijkheid independence
(de) onafhankelijkheidsverklaring 2 declaration of independence
afhankelijk (afhankelijke ) dependent
afhangen van 2 3 to depend (on) ‑>>

onbegonnen werk 2 ["unbegun work"] - a job so big, difficult or hopeless it looks impossible to get started beginnen to begin, to start ‑>>

onbegrijpelijk 2 3 incomprehensible, impossible to understand, ~not reasonable begrijpen to understand, to know the how or why of something ‑>>

onbeheerst 2 3 4 uncontrolled, undisciplined
zich beheersen 2 3 'to control yourself, have a grip on your emotions' ‑>>

onbekend 2 unknown, unidentified ‑>>
bekend (bekend/bekende 2) known, well-known ‑>>

onbelangrijk 2 3 not important
belangrijk 2 (belangrijk / belangrijke 2) important ‑>>

onbeleefd 2 3 4 5 impolite, bad-mannered
beleefd polite, well-mannered
Hij was eerlijk, maar beleefd He was honest, but in a polite way

onbepaald indefinite
bepalen 2 3 to determine, define // to determine, set, stipulate ‑>>

onbeschoft rude, bad-mannered
probably related to: beschaafd civilized

(het) onbesproken gedrag [behaviour above reproach] - unblemished conduct spreken to speak ‑>>
bespreken 2 to discuss // to reserve

onbetaalbaar 2 3 [cannot be paid for] - priceless betalen to pay ‑>>

onbewoonbaar verklaarde woning 2 3 [house declared unlivable] condemned building, officially declared unfit for habitation wonen 2 to live, reside ‑>>

onbewust 2 unconscious (without thinking)
bewust aware, conscious ‑>>
See also bewusteloos - below

ondankbaar 2 3 'ungrateful' // 'thankless'
bedanken 2 to thank ‑>>

ondanks 2 3 despite, in spite of
dankzij 2 'thanks to' ‑>>
(de) dank 2 thanks, gratitude ‑>>

ondeugend 2 3 4 naughty
(de) deugd 2 3 virtue, 'good' behavior

ondiep 2 [not deep] - shallow
diep 2 (diepe diep / diepe ) deep ‑>>

(het) onding 2 3 4 5 an annoying tool or gadget (clumsy, not working well)
(het) ding thing

ondoenlijk 2 3 ['undoable,' 'cannot be done'] - said about an impossible task or job doen 2 3 to do ‑>>

ondoorgrondelijk 2 unfathomable, incomprehensible

'Doorsiet den Grondt' faux 'old' Dutch for: Doorzie de grond 2 ['see through, look deep into] understand the soil'

oneerbiedig 2 irreverent, disrespectful
(de) eerbied esteem, regard, respect
eerbiedig 2 respectful

(de) oneffenheid 2 ['unevenness, irregularity'] - a bump in the road or also figuratively, an 'irregularity, a roughness,' a problem effen 2 3 4 1. (a surface being) 'flat, smooth, even' ‑>>
2. (fabric color) 'solid'

oneindig infinite; ∞ infinity
(het) einde 2
= (het) eind 2 'end' ‑>>
See also:  eindeloos - below

(de) onenigheid 2 3 4 'disagreement, division, discord' (probably not derived from
'enig' 1. only, single, unique, one-time, one-and-only
2. any ‑>> - but from  één 2 3 ('one')
So:  'onenig' means: not one, no unity, not together, not of one opinion

oneven 2 odd (numbers)
even even, 'numbers divisible by 2' ‑>>

I say the ONG in some of the ong‑ words as "ONG‑G"

ongebruikelijk 2 3 4 5 6 7 unusual, uncommon
gebruikelijk 2 usual, common
Dat is erg ongebruikelijk 2 3 4 That's very unusual

(het) ongedierte 2 vermin, unwanted small animals and bugs
(het) dier 2 3 4 animal ‑>>

ongeduldig 2 impatient, not accepting or tolerating delays geduldig 2 3 patient, accepting or tolerating delays ‑>>

ongegeneerd (second G is French) 2 3 4 without shame, without embarrasment gênant (French G) embarrassing
(de) gêne (French G) 2 embarrasment

(de) ongehuwde moeder 2 [unmarried] single mother
gehuwd 2 married (bureaucratic, formal)
(het) huwelijk marriage ‑>>
See also:  getrouwd married below

(de) ongein something annoying or unpleasant (de) gein fun
(het) geintje something funny, a joke
geinig 2 funny ‑>>

ongelegen 2 inconvenient, 'not a good time' ~ (de) gelegenheid 2 opportunity ‑>>

(de) ongelikte beer 2 [unlicked bear] bad-mannered person (Stoett says it's from the folk belief that mother bears lick their babies) likken 2 to lick, lap (tongue movement)

ongelofelijk / ongelooflijk unbelievable
geloven 2 to believe ‑>>
ongelofelijk smerig 2 3 4 [unbelievable] 'impossibly dirty' ‑>>

ongelovigen 2 non-believers
ongelovige Thomas Doubting Thomas, a disbelieving Thomas, a person of small faith - from John 20:28 'geloven' - see above

(het) ongeluk 2 is 'accident,' something bad happening inadvertently. In traffic it's often better to call it a 'crash:' (de) botsing 2 ‑>>
(het) geluk 2 can mean both 'luck,' fate favoring you // 'happiness,' ‑>>

ongenadig 2 3 merciless
also:  genadeloos merciless - below (de) genade 2

ongenoegen 2 3 displeasure
(het) genoegen pleasure, satisfaction (somewhat old-fashioned) ‑>>

ongerust 2 worried, concerned ‑>>
'gerust' 2 3 is the past participle of rusten:  'rested' - but it also has other meanings, most commonly something like 'with confidence, without fear, safely'
(de) rust 2 'rest,' time of relaxation, nap or sleep

ongeschoren 2 unshaven
scheren 2 3 to shave (beard, hair, sheep)
a strong verb:
scheren - schoor - geschoren
to shave - shaved - (have) shaved

ongetrouwd 2 3 [unmarried] - single
getrouwd married
trouwen 2 3 to marry ‑>> more

ongetwijfeld undoubtedly, without doubt
(de) twijfel doubt ‑>>

(het) ongeval 2 - a formal word for 'accident' (het) geval 'case,' affair, situation ‑>>
- see the more common (het) ongeluk 2 accident - above

ongeveer 2 about, approximately (an estimate) Probably not an  'on-' word. I can't think of the original word
ongeveer veertig Euro about 40 Euros

ongewassen 2 unwashed
wassen 2 to wash // to do laundry ‑>>
zich wassen 2 'to wash yourself, oneself, to wash up' ‑>>

onguur 2 3 (said of people) making a very unpleasant impression, unsavory guur 2 3 (said of weather) very unpleasant, harsh, bleak, raw, rough

onhandig clumsy, awkward
handig 2 skillful, 'good with their hands,' but also 'clever' // handy, convenient Hij is erg handig 2 3 He's very good with his hands (building or fixing things at home)

onheilspellend 2 ominous, predicting disaster
(het) naderend onheil 2 approaching doom

onherroepelijk 2 [cannot be recalled] - irrevocable, irreversible her- 2 re-
roepen 2 3 to call, shout

onhoudbaar 2 ['cannot be held, impossible to hold'] - untenable, unacceptable, indefensible een onhoudbare positie 2 3 4 1. a viewpoint that's unacceptable
2. (military) a location that cannot be defended een onhoudbare situatie 2 3 [a situation that can't go on] - an untenable situation, an unacceptable set of circumstances - something gotta change houden 2 3 4 'to hold, to keep' ‑>>
houdbaar 2 3 ['can be kept'] 'non-perishable, shelf-stable' ‑>> houdbaar tot ... 'can be kept until' - 'best before ...' tenminste houdbaar tot ... 2 'can be kept at least until' - 'best before ...'

onkreukbaar 2 incorruptible, cannot be bribed
(kreukels 2 creases (in fabric))
(het) smeergeld ['grease-money'] - a bribe]
steekpenningen a bribe

(het) onkruid weeds
Onkruid vergaat niet 'Weeds can't be killed' - the permanence of serious evil and profiteering onkruid wieden remove weeds
Dutch  'wieden' is probably related to English 'weed'
(het) kruid herb
plural: kruiden herbs, (spices)
't bittere kruid the bitter herb

onlangs 2 recently, not so long ago, 'the other day' ‑>> Er is daar onlangs iets gebeurd 2 Something happened over there recently 'Langs' 2 3 means 'along' ‑>> - which doesn't make sense in 'onlangs.'  I have no idea what the root word is or would mean: 'onlangs'  is probably not an on-word.

(het) onmens a very unpleasant person, 'not a mensch'
onmenselijk vroeg 2 [inhumanely] impossibly, beastly early
(de) mens 2 human being, 'man' ‑>>
plural:  mensen people

onmiddelijk immediately
Hou er onmiddelijk mee op! 2 quick '[Now] Stop that right away!' I can't think of a root word like 'middelijk' - 'onmiddelijk'  is probably not an on-word

(de) onmin 2 3 discord, strife, strained relation  (slightly old-fashioned) - from the Medieval word de Minne  meaning 'love.'
Ze leven in onmin 2 3 They're not on good terms, they live in strife

onmogelijk 2 impossible
't Is haast onmogelijk 2 3
('t Is welhaast onmogelijk 2 3) It's almost (well nigh) impossible mogelijk 2 (mogelijke ) possible ‑>>
Hoe is 't mogelijk? 2 3 4 5 6 How is it possible? How can it be? met alle mogelijke middelen 2 with all possible means (de) mogelijkheid 2 3 'possibility'

onnadenkend 2 unthinkingly, not considering consequences of actions nadenken 2 3 (4) to think over, considering something carefully - this is the real 'denken' to think - use the brain ‑>>

onnatuurlijk traag slow slow 2 slow 3 Unnaturally slow, sluggish ‑>> 't Klinkt onnatuurlijk It sounds contrived, artificial, stilted natuurlijk of course! // naturally

onnodig 2 3 4 5 unnecessary, not necessary
een onnodig risico 2 3 an unnecessary risk ‑>> nodig necessary, needed ‑>>
Ik vind 't niet nodig 2 3 [I find it not necessary] - I don't think it's necessary, I think there's no need for it

ononderbroken 2 3 uninterrupted
onderbreken 2 3 to interrupt
Wij onderbreken ... 2 We interrupt ...
breken to crack, to break - a strong verb:
breken - brak - gebroken
to break - broke - broken

onontkoombaar 2 3 slow unavoidable, inescapable more commonly:  onvermijdelijk 2 3 - more below unavoidable ontkomen 2 3 to escape, evade
komen to come ‑>>

onophoudelijk 2 unending, continuing, ceaselessly, incessantly ophouden 2 to stop, end, come to an end ophouden met to stop, end, quit, cease  ‑>> - met/mee

onopvallend inconspicuous, not standing out, not very noticeable opvallen 2 to stand out, be conspicuous // to notice ‑>>

onovergankelijk 2 intransitive (verbs)
overgankelijk 2 transitive
(De) overgang means 'transition' and also 'menopause' - and 'crossing' in words like
(de) spoorwegovergang 'railroad crossing'

onovertroffen 2 3 unsurpassed, as good as or better than any other overtreffen to exceed, surpass ‑>>

onoverzichtelijk 2 3 cluttered, badly organized
(het) overzicht 2 overview, survey, outline overzien 2 1. [view in totality] to survey
2. to look over, to examine, to supervise ‑>>

onpartijdig 2 3 4 5 impartial, even-handed ['above the political parties'] (de) partij party (political ‑>> // festivity)

onprettig 2 3 unpleasant, disagreeable prettig prettige 2 3 pleasant, nice, enjoyable ‑>>

(het) onraad a suspicious situation, danger, trouble
(de) raad counsel, advice // council, board de gemeenteraad 2 city council
(de) krijgsraad 2 1. military court of justice
2. wartime council of the top military

(het) onrecht 2 injustice
(Het) recht 2 as 'justice, the judiciary' is old-fashioned, but the 'being allowed to' and 'being entitled to' 'the right to ...' meaning is still common ‑>>

onredelijk 2 3 unreasonable, unfair, not right, unjust 't Is onredelijk It's unreasonable redelijk 2 (redelijke ) reasonable, fair // rational, sensible (de) rede 2 3 1. reason, rationality ‑>>
2. speech, address, presentation
3. ships anchoring ('parking') area outside harbor

onregelmatig 2 irregular
regelmatig (regelmatige ) regular

onrust unrest, turmoil // restlessness
(de) rust 2 'rest,' time of relaxation, nap or sleep ‑>> onrustig 2 3 restless, troubled, agitated
rustig 'quiet,' no or low activity ‑>>

(de) onschuld 2 innocence
(de) schuld 1. debt, money owed
2. fault, blame ‑>> onschuldig 2 1. innocent, not guilty
2. harmless schuldig 2 3 guilty

onsmakelijk 2 distasteful (tasting bad, unappetizing // in bad taste Eet smakelijk! 'Bon appetit! Enjoy your meal!' ‑>> (de) smaak 2 taste ‑>> 2

onstuimig passionate, tempestuous, turbulent (root word no longer in use)

onveranderd 2 3 unchanged
veranderen to change ‑>>
Wat is er veranderd? 2 What has changed? What's different? Er is helemaal niks veranderd 2 Nothing at all has changed, not a single thing

onverantwoordelijk 2 3 irresponsible, ~stupid
verantwoordelijk (verantwoordelijke 2) responsible ‑>>
Ik hou(d) je verantwoordelijk 2 3 I hold you responsible, you are to blame if it goes wrong

Geen onverdeeld genoegen 2 3 4 ['Not an undivided, not a complete pleasure'] - 'No unmitigated pleasure' - something not entirely pleasing verdelen 2 3 to divide // to distribute ‑>>

onverklaarbaar 2 3 unexplainable, it cannot be explained, it's impossible to explain verklaren 2 1. to explain ‑>>
2. to declare, state, pronounce Ik kan het niet verklaren 2 I can't explain (it) - I don't understand ‑>>

(de) onverlaat 2 miscreant, very annoying or bad person breaking laws or rules (root word no longer in use)

onvermijdelijk 2 3 unavoidable
vermijden to avoid ‑>>

onvermoeibaar 2 'tireless,' does not get tired, does not stop
vermoeiend 2 tiring
moe 2 3 tired ‑>>

onverschillig 2 indifferent
Probably related to:
(het) verschil difference
and  verschillend different // various ‑>>

onverstandig 2 (onverstandige 2 3 4) 'not sensible, a bad idea'
verstandig (verstandige ) 'prudent, sensible, well-thought-out'
(het) verstand 'understanding:' - 'mind, intellect, brains' ‑>>

onverwacht unexpected, unexpectedly
(de) onverwachte wending 2 unexpected turn of events (often in fiction or in a narrative) - or- unexpected development verwachten 2 to expect ‑>>

onverzadigde vetzuren unsaturated fatty acids
meervoudig onverzadigde vetzuren polyunsaturated fatty acids
verzadigen - to satisfy // to saturate
more Nutritional Values

[(het)] onvoldoende 2 3 insufficient // failing grade
[(het)] voldoende 2 3 sufficient // passing grade

(de) onvolkomenheid 2 3 imperfection // incompleteness
plural: onvolkomenheden 2 3 imperfections - irregularity
Probably related to:
volmaakt 2 perfect

onvoltooid 2 3 4 5 unfinished - German: 'unvollendet' voltooien 2 3 4 to finish, complete (something big) ‑>> See also:  onaf 2 3 unfinished, not ready - above
(De) Onvoltooid Tegenwoordige Tijd 2 The [unfinished] Simple Present Tense
(De) Voltooid Tegenwoordige Tijd 2 The [finished] Perfect Present Tense
All about the Verb Tenses

onvoorspelbaar 2 3 unpredictable
voorspellen 2 to predict, ~to prophesy ‑>>

onvoorstelbaar 2 unimaginable, impossible to imagine, it couldn't happen zich voorstellen 2 - to imagine // - to introduce oneself ‑>>

onwaar false, untrue
onwaarheden 'untruths,' lies
Ze hebben jullie onwaarheden verteld 2 They have told you guys [untruths] lies, they lied to you Waar (waar/ware 2) true, real ‑>>
(de) waarheid 2 truth
(het) nepnieuws 2 fake news

onwaarschijnlijk 2 unlikely
waarschijnlijk 2 ['true-seeming'] - probably ‑>>

(het) onweer thunderstorm ‑>>
(de) bliksem lightning
(de) donder thunder
't weer 2 the weather ‑>>
Talking about the Weather

onweerstaanbaar 2 3 irresistable
weerstaan 2 3 to resist, withstand (usually figuratively, like temptation) ‑>>

(het) onwettig kind illegitimate child
(de) ongehuwde moeder 2
[unmarried] single mother - see above
(de) wet law ‑>>

"onwijs gaaf" 2 [`unwisely, imprudently, ~irresponsibly perfect'] - 'too cool' - (1990s teenagers)
wijs (wijze 2 wijs/wijze 2) 'wise,' having or showing experience, knowledge and good judgement ‑>>

onzeker 2 3 insecure, uncertain
(de) onzekerheid 2 3 uncertainty
zeker 2 (zeker/zekere ) certain, sure ‑>>

onzijdig 2 3 neutral, impartial, neuter // not 'male' or 'female' (words) (de) zijde 'side' (by itself a little old-fashioned) ‑>>

onzorgvuldig 2 3 careless, sloppy, inaccurate ‑>>
zorgvuldig 2 careful, with care and precision, meticulous
(de) zorg 2 care, support ‑>>

Other Negating Prefixes

asociaal 2 antisocial, ~egocentric
sociaal social, ~altruistic, ~community-oriented

organisch the chemistry of complex carbon compounds anorganisch 'inorganic,' other chemistry
'Biologisch' 'biological' is fhe Dutch word for English 'organic' meaning food grown without artificial herbicides, pesticides and fungicides, and without fertilizers from a factory

averechts 2
Originally a knitting technique, moving the yarn in the opposite direction, it's used in a wider sense of things going totally wrong or having the opposite effect of what was intended
rechts right (not left)

-loos

besluiteloos 2 3 4 indecisive, unable to make decisions (de) besluiteloosheid 2 3 4 indecisiveness, inability to make a decision (het) besluit decision

bewusteloos unconscious (knocked out)
bewust aware, conscious ‑>>
See also  'onbewust' 2 above

bodemloze put 2 3 'bottomless drain' - a problem that cannot be solved, however much is thrown at it - 'pouring money down the drain' (de) bodem 2 bottom (floor, ground)
(de) put 2 well // drain

draadloos wireless
(de) draad wire, string, yarn (de) radio 2 radio
(de) afstandsbediening remote control
tegendraads 2 3 contrary, against the grain

eindeloos without end
(het) einde 2
= (het) eind 2 'end' ‑>>
See also:  'oneindig - above

genadeloos merciless
(de) genade 2 mercy
See also:  'ongenadig' 2 3 - above

geruisloos 2 3 4 'silent, without making sound' - said of movement, something happening without any sound (de) ruis 2 static, white noise - and also the sound of wind in trees ‑>>

hopeloos 2 hopeless, desperate, despairing
't Is hopeloos 2 3 It's hopeless, there is no possible good outcome (de) hoop 2 'hope,' faithful expectation ‑>> // 'heap,' 'a large amount, a lot, a bunch'

hulpeloos 2 3 helpless
(de) hulp help, assistance ‑>>

klakkeloos unthinking, rash; ~sudden
klakkeloos overnemen 2 3 4 unquestoningly adopting an idea or a procedure
- root word unknown to me

kleurloos 2 colorless, pale, drab, bland
(de) kleur 2 color ‑>>

loos alarm 2 false alarm
loze beloften 2 empty promises
loos 2 3 empty, 'not'

machteloos 2 3 powerless
machteloze woede 2 [powerless] helpless, impotent rage (de) macht power (the capacity or ability to do or act, the capacity or ability to influence or direct) ‑>>

't Irriteert me mateloos 2 It annoys me beyond measure - I'm very annoyed by it (de) maat 2 - size (clothes, shoes) ‑>>
(mate 2)

moeiteloos without (much) effort, easily
de) moeite 2 effort, exertion // bother, trouble ‑>>

roemloos without fame, without glory - failed ambition of grandeur (de) roem 2 3 4 fame, glory

roerloos motionless (living beings) (Though (het) roer 2 means 'rudder,' the ship direction device, roerloos  does not mean 'rudderless' zich roeren 2 1.to move ('moving your body')
2. to protest, threatening revolt roeren 2 3 to stir, mix (soup etc.)

slapeloze nachten 2 sleepless nights
(de) slaap 2 sleep ‑>>

smetteloos 2 'without blemish, very clean, spotless, without any stain' (de) smet 2 'stain, spot, smudge, blemish' (also figuratively) ‑>>

straffeloos 2 3 unpunished, without consequences
(de) straf punishment ‑>> 2

tijdloos 2 3 timeless, 'never gets old, for the ages' - not subject to fashion, temporary concerns or aging (de) tijd 2 3 time ‑>>

'toonloze E' 'toneless E' - the schwa - what I call 'voiceless, unstressed E' ‑>> (de) toon 2 3 4 tone - Music Words

Dit uitzichtsloze bestaan 2 3 This existence without prospects, hopeless existence, this life without a (good) future (het) uitzicht 1. view (from) 2. prospect

vlekkeloos 2 3 'stainless' - but usually figuratively: a procedure or an action went off perfectly, 'without a hitch' (de) vlek 2 'stain' ‑>>

waardeloos 2 "worthless," - without value, useless, not interesting (de) waarde 'value,' "worth" ‑>>

weergaloos 2 3 = zonder weerga '[won't come back] grand, without equal, can't be topped, unparallelled' weerga 2 3 [going again] - return, rerun, coming back

weerloos [without resistance] defenseless, helpless 'Weer' 2 meaning 'fighting' or 'defense' (German 'Wehr') is only found in compound words like for instance (de) brandweer 2 fire brigade, fire department ‑>>

werk(e)loos 2 3 unemployed
(het) werk work
werken to work ‑>>

zinloos 2 pointless, useless, meaningless (de) zin 2 sense, meaning, use (and many other meanings!) ‑>>

zorgeloos 2 [worry-less, without worries] carefree zorgen 2 'worries' ‑>>

ont-

ontberingen 2 3 4 hardships, deprivations

(het) ontbijt breakfast ‑>> 2
bijten 2 to bite - probably not related

ontbreken - to lack, be missing
Dat ontbrak er nog maar aan! That was still missing from it! - Another unpleasant complication, adding to the misery De wil ontbreekt 2 3 4 The will is lacking, there is no willingness
breken to crack, to break - a strong verb:
breken - brak - gebroken
to break - broke - broken

ontdekken to discover ‑>>
dekken can mean 'to cover' and bedekken 2 mostly means 'to cover' ‑>>

onthoofden 2 3 to decapitate, cut off the head (het) hoofd head (human or horse)

onthouden 2 3 1. to remember (not forget)
2. to withhold (not give)
3. to abstain from, stay away from something Ik kan het niet onthouden 2 I can't keep it in mind, it keeps slipping from my mind, I keep forgetting (de) geheelonthouder 2 teetotaler, person staying away from alcohol onthoudingsverschijnselen 2 withdrawal symptoms
Houden 2 3 4 to 'hold,' 'to keep' ‑>>

onthutsend 2 shocking root word unknown

ontkennen 2 to deny, say it isn't true ‑>> kennen to know (people) // to be familiar with ‑>>

ontknoping 2 3 ending where the various story lines are resolved, made clear or a decision taken (denouement) (de) knoop 2 knot // button
de knoop doorhakken 2 'cutting (through) the knot' - taking a decision after long deliberations

ontkomen 2 3 to escape, evade
komen to come ‑>>
See also:  'onontkoombaar' 2 3 slow - above

ontluchten 2 to ventilate, let the air out (de) lucht air

(de) ontmoeting 2 encounter, meeting
elkaar ontmoeten 2 3 to meet [each other]' - people) ‑>> The verb moeten 2 means something like 'have to, must, should, being obliged to' ‑>> - but I don't see what that has to do with 'to meet'

(de) ontploffing explosion ‑>>
ploffen 2 3 to thud, flap, pop

ontslaan 2 to fire (from a job) - to dismiss
(het) ontslag 2 3 dismissal (from a job) ‑>>
'Slaan' 2 ‑>> means 'to slap, hit' - that doesn't make sense as the root word for 'ontslaan'

ontsnappen 2 3 to escape
Hij wist te ontsnappen 2 3 He was able to escape ‑>> Ze hielp hem ontsnappen 2 3 She helped him escape ‑>> 'Snappen' 2 3 usually means 'to understand'
Ik snap 't 2 3 I understand (it) ~ I see
- but 'snappen'  can also mean something like 'to catch red-handed' and maybe that's distantly related to 'ontsnappen'

zich ontspannen 2 3 to relax ‑>>
Ontspan je! 2 'Relax!'
Je moet je ontspannen 2 3 'You should relax!' spannend 2 exciting, thrilling
... en dan wordt 't spannend ... and then it'll get exciting

ontstaan 2 3 to originate, come into being
ontstaan - ontstond - ontstaan
staan to stand, to be standing ‑>>

(de) ontsteking inflammation, infection ‑>>
(de) longontsteking ['lung infection'] - pneumonia
(de) blindedarmontsteking ['blind-gut infection'] - appendicitis
(de) voorhoofdsholteontsteking 2 3 'sinus infection'
steken 2 to stab, sting, stick, put
steken - stak - gestoken
to sting - stung - stung

(het) ontwerp 2 design, plan
werpen 2 to throw
werpen - wierp - geworpen
to throw - threw - thrown

ontwikkelen 2 to develop
(de) ontwikkeling development ‑>>
'Wikkelen' 2 means something like 'to wrap by winding something around' (like for instance bandaging) so 'ontwikkelen'  literally means something is unwrapped by unwinding the cover.
also:  ingewikkeld (ingewikkelde 2 3) complicated

(het) ontzet 2 3 'relief' - the lifting of (het) beleg the 'siege' of a town (in the Middle Ages and the 16th and 17th Centuries.) Leidens ontzet the lifting of the siege of Leyden (October 3rd, 1574) zetten to put, place, set, position - probably not the root word

ontzien 2 to spare, save, ~to pass over
zien to see ‑>> - probably not the root word

verontreinigd contaminated, polluted, fouled
verontreinigd met 2 3 contaminated, polluted, fouled by 'rein' 2 is an old-fashioned word for 'clean' or 'pure' ‑>>

verontrustend 2 alarming, worrisome, troubling
(de) rust 2 'rest,' time of relaxation, nap or sleep ‑>>

verontschuldigingen 2 excuses, apologies
zich verontschuldigen 2 3 to apologize, offer excuses
(de) schuld 1. debt, money owed
2. fault, blame ‑>>

lek' 2 3 4

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