dalih

Indonesian

Etymology

Inherited from Malay dalih, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dalih (“be the reason for an action”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈda.lɪh]
• Hyphenation: da‧lih

Noun

dalih (plural dalih-dalih)

1. pretext

   Pungutan itu dilakukan dengan dalih untuk dana kesejahteraan

   The levy was carried out under the pretext of welfare funds

2. excuse, quibble

Derived terms

• berdalih
• berdalih-dalih
• mendalih
• mendalihkan

Further reading

• “dalih”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Malay

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dalih (“be the reason for an action”) (see also Tagalog dahil (“because; reason”)) - semantic shift perhaps with displacement of loaned kerana, sebab and pasal taking place of meaning niche.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eh

Noun

dalih (Jawi spelling داليه, plural dalih-dalih or dalih²)

1. pretext
2. excuse, quibble, subterfuge

   Synonym: alasan

Verb

mendalih

1. to blame, to reproach

   Synonym: salahkan

Derived terms

Affixed terms and other derivations

Regular affixed derivations:

• pendalih [agentive / qualitative / instrumental / abstract / measure] (peN-)
• mendalih [agent focus] (meN-)
• mendalihkan [agent focus + causative benefactive] (meN- + -kan)
• berdalih [stative / habitual] (beR-)

References

• Pijnappel, Jan (1875), “داله dalih”, in Maleisch-Hollandsch woordenboek, John Enschede en Zonen, Frederik Muller, page 123
• Wilkinson, R. J. (1901-1903), “داله daleh”, in A Malay-English dictionary, Singapore; Hong Kong; Shanghai; Yokohama: Kelly & Walsh Ltd., pages 286-7
• Wilkinson, Richard James (1932), “daleh”, in A Malay-English dictionary (romanised), volume I, Mytilene, Greece: Salavopoulos & Kinderlis, page 245

Further reading

• "dalih" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017