-eren

The suffix results from an old plural in -er (cognate to German -er), to which a second plural ending -en was added. The single version can still be seen in many compounds such as kindertijd, and in the formation of plural diminutives (kindertjes, radertjes). The double suffix -eren is comparable to English -ren in children.

• IPA^(key): /ərə(n)/

-eren

1. forms the plural of a limited group of nouns: blad, been, ei, gelid, gemoed, goed, hoen, kalf, kind, kleed, lam, lied, rad, rund, volk.

   kind — kinderen

   “child” — “children”

• The two nouns ending in -n interfix an additional -d- before the ending: beenderen, hoenderen.
• The three nouns ending in a single vowel + -d- lengthen the vowel: bladeren, gelederen, raderen.

From French -er, from Latin -āre.

• IPA^(key): /eːrə(n)/

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-eren

1. part of the infinitive of verbs borrowed mainly from French and Latin, e.g. informeren from French informer (to inform)

-eren

1. frequentative verbal suffix; indicating repetition

   Synonym: -elen