verkramp, adjective

Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, ‘extremely conservative’ (literally ‘cramped’; the predicative form in Afrikaans; cf. verkrampte).
a. In historical contexts. Of or pertaining to those members of the National Party who supported the rigid application of apartheid laws. b. Conservative; bigoted. So the comparative form verkramper, and the superlative form verkrampest. In both senses also verkrampte adjective. See also out-verkramp. Cf. verlig.
1969 J. Mervis in Sunday Times 24 Aug. 25On a very strict, narrow interpretation, my guess is that most Nationalists are verkramp. But some are more verkramper, and others are most verkrampest.
1975 Sunday Times 28 Sept. 4The secret of his (sc. the Cabinet Minister’s) success is that he can see two sides to a question — the verkramp and the super-verkramp.
1975 Friend 10 July 6Which is South Africa’s most conservative (verkramp, if you like) city? Most often the accusing finger is pointed at either Pretoria or Bloemfontein.
1977 Drum Sept. 47He believed that this Act was enacted to protect the ignorant and biased Afrikaner..the verkramp type who saw illusionary ‘swart gevaar’ in ‘Would you like your daughter to marry a black man’ kind of propaganda.
1982 S. Afr. Digest 3 Sept. 4Dr De Klerk..was responsible, in 1966,..for coining the terms ‘verlig’ and ‘verkramp’ to brand the enlightened and conservative elements.
1986 P. Moorcraft in Frontline June 26Such an outcome might satisfy both verlig and verkramp sentiments in South Africa.
1987 Cosmopolitan Dec. 168We have a jol in Pretoria...But only because we go to what I think is the only spot in this whole verkramp city: Club Equusite, the gay nightclub downtown.
Of or pertaining to those members of the National Party who supported the rigid application of apartheid laws.
Conservative; bigoted. So the comparative form verkramper, and the superlative form verkrampest. In both senses also verkrampte adjective.
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19691987