sommer, adverb

/ˈsɔmə/
Forms:
soemaar, somaShow more Formerly also soemaar, soma, so maar, somaar, somar, somer, somma, sommaar.
Origin:
Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans sommer, somaar simply, just, for no specific reason, from Dutch zomaar.
colloquial
‘Just’, ‘simply’, ‘only’; for no specific reason, ‘because’; without more ado. Also used redundantly in the phrase just sommer. Cf. maar adverb sense 2, mossie(s).
1786 G. Forster tr. of A. Sparrman’s Voy. to Cape of G.H. II. 19When we propounded this difficulty to them, they gave us no other answer than, So maar, Baas! This is our way, Master!
1835 T.H. Bowker Journal. 12 MayBowkers party gone out on patrole somer heard from the third Division, they have been shooting some Kafirs, & taking Cattle & Goats.
[1850 R.G.G. Cumming Hunter’s Life I. 27The Dutch word somar..is also a word to which I think I could challenge the most learned schoolmaster in the Colony to attach any definite meaning. It is used by both Boers and Hottentots in almost every sentence; it is an answer to every question; and its meanings are endless.]
1866 E.L. Price Jrnls (1956) 213I have soma short-coated the little maid to-day Jeanie, and she reminds me of my sweet Moffat — so wee and light.
1916 S. Black in S. Gray Three Plays (1984) 237Man: Why are you here alone...Van K: I’m waiting soemaar to go out on bail...No man, no — volstrekt nie, jong! Man: What’s that? Why do you say I’m young? Van K: No, it’s soemaar an expression. Man: Don’t you speak English? Van K: Man, that’s English, man.
1920 S. Black Dorp 174‘Ach, Oom Kaspar, can’t I go back to look for my pipe and put it somaar in the box?’ ‘Nay, kerel, they won’t let you go again inside the ballot-box.’
1948 V.M. Fitzroy Cabbages & Cream 42Dahlia unfolded a touching tale of a young son who had nowhere to live ‘and can sommaar sleep in Aaron’s room if missis will only be so kine, and he will do any sorter work that missis wants’.
1963 A.M. Louw 20 Days 212I got such a fright,..I sommer ran out in my night-clothes.
1963 K. Mackenzie Dragon to Kill 57‘You want them to just sommer stand there and be stoned to death?’ asked Jan Marais.
1969 A. Fugard Boesman & Lena 15Sannie who? Sommer Sannie Somebody.
1970 A. Fulton I Swear to Apollo 229‘Man,’ he said to himself. ‘It somer doesn’t make sense.’
1977 P.-D. Uys Paradise Is Closing Down 136We had no fridge or stove; somaar a ou tin with cold water for the milk.
1978 Voice 29 Nov. 2APeople never learn — they somer throw caution to the winds when it comes to weddings.
1979 Sunday Times 22 Apr. (Mag. Sect.) 5The third International Film Festival to be held in Cape Town promises to be a visual delight for the fans who know the difference between just sommer movies and the cinema as art.
1984 ‘Dan’ in Frontline Feb. 27The Capeys worry about relations between the larnies and the bushies. The darkies don’t feature. They are sommer a fact of life, like mosquitos or income tax.
1984 Frontline May 39These are meant to be independent states’ stations, but actually they are sommer advertising tricks to make money from the same white listeners who used to think that the name of broadcasting was Springbok.
1985 P. Slabolepszy Sat. Night at Palace 37Delicate wafer. Tiny ripples for artistic effect. I mean, this isn’t just sommer a chip any more — it’s a bladdy twentieth-century work of art!
1986 D. Case Love, David 110‘I would rescue it, but, I would not keep it.’ ‘Why not?’ I asked curiously. ‘Sommer,’ David said.
1986 R. Morris in Style Nov. 130Cape Point Nature Reserve makes for a great day’s entertainment...Once in you can picnic, swim, fish or just sommer look around.
1987 L. Beake Strollers 32‘Let’s go to the Parade.’ ‘What for?’...‘Sommer.’
1988 E. Platter in Style June 65Cycling glasses: Not goggles, sommer sunglasses, but the trendy cyclist will not settle for anything less than a R190 pair of Oakleys from the States.
1990 H. De Zitter in Style May 88I used to just sommer sit there, waiting for the horses to come by, a prime target for ticks and tick-bite fever.
1991 P. Slabolepszy Braait Laaities. 29What are you going to do if these blokes have just sommer disappeared?
1994 L. Mackenzie on Radio South Africa 6 MayYou can sommer hug any Vaalie you like.
‘Just’, ‘simply’, ‘only’; for no specific reason, ‘because’; without more ado. Also used redundantly in the phrase just sommer. Cf. maar adverb sense 2, mossie(s).
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17861994
so long, adverbial phraseadv. phr.songololo, tshongololo, nounn.
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