merdeka

Indonesian

Etymology

From Sanskrit महर्द्धिक (maharddhika, “prosperous”) (compare Malay merdeka, Buginese ᨆᨑᨙᨉᨀ, Tagalog maharlika).

Adjective

merdeka

1. independent

Synonyms

• mandiri (“independent; self-sufficient”)

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Malay

Alternative forms

• merdeheka

Etymology

From Classical Malay مرديكا (mĕrdeka), from Old Malay [script needed] (maharddhika) (attested in the Kota Kapur inscription), borrowed from Sanskrit महर्द्धिक (maharddhika, “prosperous”) (compare Buginese ᨆᨑᨙᨉᨀ, Tagalog maharlika).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mə(r).de.kə/
• IPA^(key): /mə(r).de.ka/
• Rhymes: -ekə, -kə, -ə

Adjective

merdeka (Jawi spelling مرديک)

1. free; the state of being liberated
   • 2005, A. Samad Said, A. Samad Said: Sebuah antologi puisi yang menghimpunkan karya-karya selama setengah abad [A. Samad Said: An anthology of poems assembled from works spanning half a century], Utusan Publications, Langsir Merdeka (Poem No. 119), page 394:

     Setiap fajar begitu dihayati ufuk merdeka; kebahagiaan yang wajib kita membinanya.

     Every hue of dawn is much appreciated by the horizon of freedom; happiness that is compulsory for all of us to build.

   Synonyms: bebas, بباس

   Antonyms: terkurung, ترکوروڠ

2. (of a polity) independent (not ruled by others)
   • 1957 August 31, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Pemasyhuran Kemerdekaan Tanah Melayu [Malayan Declaration of Independence]:

     بهاواسڽ كران تله تيباله ماسڽ باڬي اومت ڤرسكوتوان تانه ملايو اين منچاڤأي تارف سواتو بڠسا يڠ مرديك لاڬي بردولت سام ستيمڤل كدودوكنڽ دڠن سڬالا بڠسا سلوروه دنيا

     (Bahawasanya kerana telah tibalah masanya bagi umat Persekutuan Tanah Melayu ini mencapai taraf suatu bangsa yang merdeka lagi berdaulat sama setimpal kedudukannya dengan segala bangsa seluruh dunia.)

     Whereas the time has now arrived when the people of the Persekutuan Tanah Melayu will assume the status of a free independent and sovereign nation among nations of the World.

   • 2018 February 16, Normazlina M.D, “Simbol negara merdeka [Symbol of an independent nation]”, in Media Permata‎^[1], archived from the original on 18 August 2019:

     Bendera negara bukan hanya sekadar sehelai kain yang mempunyai warna atau motif tertentu bahkan ia adalah simbol identiti sesebuah negara yang merdeka lagi berdaulat.

     The national flag is not just a piece of cloth that has a certain color or motif. In fact, it is a symbol of the identity of a nation that is independent and sovereign.

Derived terms

Affixed terms and other derivations

Regular affixed derivations:

• kemerdekaan (“the state of independence; freedom”) [resemblance / passive] (ke-an)
• pemerdeka (“liberator”) [passive / name of profession] (pe-)
• pemerdekaan [passive / name of profession + resultative / locative / collective / variety / verbal noun / fruit] (pe- + -an)
• memerdekakan (“to grant independence”) [agent focus + causative benefactive] (meN- + -kan)

Irregular affixed derivations, other derivations and compound words:

• akhbar merdeka (“news that is not affiliated with any political party”)
• hari Merdeka (“Independence Day”)
• merdeka ayam (“free to do anything as desired; absolute freedom”)

Descendants

• Indonesian: merdeka

Further reading

• “merdeka” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.
• "merdeka" in Kamus Dewan, Fourth Edition, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, →ISBN, 2005.