martelaar

This word seems to come from martelen +‎ -aar. However, it originates from latin Martyr. Between 1201 and 1250 the word martelare was in use in Dutch, and martelaar comes from this word. The 'suffix' -aar is not really the common suffix, but an elongation or derivation of the Latin word. Therefore, a martelaar is not someone who tortures (martelen), but an actual martyr, who undergoes the torture (gemarteld worden).

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• Hyphenation: mar‧te‧laar

martelaar m (plural martelaars or martelaren, diminutive martelaartje n)

1. martyr

• martelares f