Ontwikkelen
Example: De samenleving begon zich snel te ontwikkelen na de oorlog.
Definition
"Ontwikkelen" means to gradually cause something to grow, progress, or become more advanced, especially in a historical or societal context, as in the phrase 'The society began to develop rapidly after the war.'
Etymology
The word "ontwikkelen" comes from the Dutch prefix 'ont-' meaning 'un-' or 'dis-', and 'wikkelen' meaning 'to wrap' or 'to wind.' Originally, it implied 'to unwrap' or 'unfold,' metaphorically suggesting the process of growth or progress. Did you know that it shares roots with the English word 'envelop'?
Learn to use this word actively
"Ontwikkelen" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - History - (B1) - set 1", containing 102 commonly used words.
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