Moelai
Definition & Context
Verb
A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence.
An archaic spelling of mulai, meaning to begin or to commence an action, activity, or state. The word marks the starting point of a process or event, whether in the context of time, work, or a particular ongoing condition.
Synonyms & Variants
memulai
The active transitive verb form of 'mulai', used in formal contexts to express the act of actively starting something with a clear object.
mulai
Verb indicating the beginning of an action or activity.
mengawali
A formal synonym of 'mulai' that emphasizes the initial position in a sequence of events. Slightly more formal and often used in official writing or speeches.
start
An English loanword equivalent used in urban and informal contexts, especially among young city dwellers, as a social variant of 'mulai'.
Usage Notes or Etymology
The word moelai is the Van Ophuijsen spelling of the modern Indonesian word mulai. The Van Ophuijsen orthographic system, officially introduced in 1901 by Ch. A. Van Ophuijsen alongside Nawawi Soetan Makmur and Moehammad Taib Soetan Ibrahim, employed the digraph “oe” to represent the vowel sound /u/ in Malay. This spelling system was widely used in colonial-era newspapers, official documents, and literary works throughout the Dutch East Indies period, until it was replaced by the Republican Spelling (Ejaan Soewandi) in 1947. The root word mulai itself originates from Classical Malay and has appeared in ancient Malay manuscripts for centuries.
Real-world Usage
Ia soedah boleh bangoen dan moelai sedikit-dikit kerdjaannja. (Dia sudah bisa bangun dan mulai sedikit-sedikit pekerjaannya.)
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.
Verified Evidence1
Boekoe Soerat-Soerat (TH. A. Du Mosch) - Halaman 30 Boekoe Soerat-Soerat (TH. A. Du Mosch) - Halaman 30
ImageliteratureVerify Context
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