vaan

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See also: vään

Dutch

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Etymology

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From Middle Dutch vāne, from Old Dutch *fano, from Proto-Germanic *fanô.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /vaːn/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: vaan
  • Rhymes: -aːn

Noun

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vaan f or n (plural vanen, diminutive vaantje n)

  1. vane, small flag (often pointed or pronged)
  2. banner, battle standard
    Synonyms: banier, krijgsstandaard, standaard
  3. weathervane
    Synonyms: windvaan, windwijzer
  4. (historical, otherwise archaic) a measure of volume for beer and other drinks, equivalent to about 5 litres

Derived terms

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Finnish

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Etymology

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Originally a dialectal and interchangeable variant of vain (specifically perhaps originally from the singular instructive *vajan, or directly from the plural instructive form, compare pohjaanen < *pohjainen, standard pohjoinen). A singular instructive of vaka is another possibility. The differences in use were introduced as a part of the standard language. Has also been compared with Middle Low German wan (only, if; but; if only), which is probably not the direct origin (as asserted by some) but likely served as a reinforcing influence.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈʋɑːn/, [ˈʋɑ̝ːn]
  • Rhymes: -ɑːn
  • Syllabification(key): vaan

Conjunction

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vaan

  1. (coordinating) but (... instead), (but) rather (introducing a word or clause in contrast or contradiction with the preceding negative clause or sentence, wholly rejecting that clause)
    Near-synonym: mutta
    Se ei ole musta, vaan punainen.
    It is not black, but red.
  2. (coordinating) yet, but (but, however; introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence; generally implies a more subjective statement on part of the speaker than mutta)
    Near-synonym: mutta
    Vaan kuinka väärässä olinkaan.
    Yet how wrong I was.

Adverb

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vaan (colloquial)

  1. Alternative form of vain (all senses)
    Elämä on unta vaan. [Elämä on unta vain.]
    Life is but a dream.
    Sä annoit mulle vaan kaks’ euroo. [(Sinä) annoit minulle vain kaksi euroa.]
    You gave to me only two euros.

Further reading

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Anagrams

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