German

Noun

Geest f ‎(genitive Geest, plural Geesten)

1. Geest (a somewhat elevated landscape in a plain with sandy grounds and frequent heaths)

Derived terms

• Geestland

Antonyms

• Marsch

English

Noun

geest ‎(plural geests)

1. A type of slightly raised landscape, with sandy and gravelly soils, that occurs in the plains of Northern Germany, the Northern Netherlands and Denmark.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of R. Jameson to this entry?)

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eːst

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch geest, from Old Dutch gēst, geist, from Proto-Germanic *gaistaz, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeysd-, *ǵʰisd- ‎(“anger, agitation”).

Compare German Geist, West Frisian geast, English ghost, Swedish gast.

Noun

geest m ‎(plural geesten, diminutive geestje n)

1. ghost, spirit
2. mind, mental conscience
3. life force, vital energy
4. (alchemy) spirit, gas, distillate, essence

Idioms and expressions

De armen der geest.

Simpletons.

De geest is uit de fles.

The situation has become uncontrollable.

Helder voor de geest staan.

Having a clear recall of something.

Derived terms

• geestdriftig
• geestelijk
• geestig
• geestesziek
• klopgeest
• plaaggeest

Etymology 2

From Middle Dutch geest, from Old Dutch *gēst, a nominalisation of an adjective that meant "dry, infertile", a derivation of Proto-Germanic *gais- ‎(“infertile”).

Cognate to West Frisian gaast, geast (as in the Dutch/Frisian place name Gaasterland) and German Geest (which is borrowed from Low German). Other derivations of *gais- are: Old English gæsne ‎(“infertility, poverty”), Old French gaste ‎(“waste”) and Icelandic gisinn ‎(“dry”).^[1][2]

Noun

geest m ‎(plural geesten, diminutive geestje n)

1. heath, heathland

Derived terms

• geestgrond

Anagrams

• steeg, stege

References

1. ↑ “Geest” in: Friedrich Kluge, “Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache” , 22. Auflage, 1989, bearbeitet von Elmar Seebold, ISBN 3-11-006800-1
2. ↑ J. de Vries & F. de Tollenaere, "Etymologisch Woordenboek", Uitgeverij Het Spectrum, Utrecht, 1986 (14de druk)