Etymologically
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dadurch

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Forms

dadurch[1] Middle High German had dâdurch beside dardurch and, rarely, weakened derdurch.[2] From the 15th into the 17th century dardurch clearly prevailed, then quickly went out of use, and since the end of the 18th century only dadurch has been used.[2] Luther always wrote dadurch.[3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle High German dâdurch, inherited from Old High German dārduruh, formed from German da + durch.[2][4][1] The same compound is Middle Dutch daerdore and Dutch daardoor, and the English word is therethrough.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Old High German dārdure is recorded only in Notker (before 1022), of the Israelites led through the Red Sea.[2][4] Middle High German examples follow from about 1120, in the younger Physiologus, of the lizard putting its head through a hole.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The adverb was first used of space, a movement through a place or opening.[2][6] Early New High German also used it of cause, “for this reason”, and of manner or means, “in this way, by this means”.[6][3] The Grimms' dictionary notes that older German expressed the latter with durch daz.[3] Today it often introduces a clause with dass that gives the means or cause.[7]

Timeline

  • Before 1022 – Notker uses Old High German dārdure.[2]
  • About 1120 – Middle High German da durch in the younger Physiologus.[2]
  • 15th–17th centuries – The form dardurch prevails.[2]
  • End of the 18th century – Only dadurch remains in use.[2]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. (stressed on the first syllable) through there, through this place or opening: Das Tor ist offen, ihr könnt dadurch fahren.[7][1]
  2. By this means, in this way: Sie trainierte jeden Tag und gewann dadurch an Kraft.[7][1]
  3. For this reason, as a result of this; often with dass: Dadurch, dass er früher losfuhr, kam er pünktlich an.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob Grimm und Wilhelm Grimm, Neubearbeitung (1965–2018), ed. Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, 9 vols. (A–F), Leipzig / Stuttgart: Hirzel, p. 6, 48
  3. ^ a b c Grimm, Jacob; Grimm, Wilhelm (1854–1961), Deutsches Wörterbuch, 16 vols. in 32, Leipzig: Hirzel; digital: Wörterbuchnetz, Trier Center for Digital Humanities, p. 2, 672
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Althochdeutsches Wörterbuch, 6th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling
  5. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Mittelhochdeutsches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling
  6. ^ a b Anderson, Robert R.; Goebel, Ulrich; Reichmann, Oskar, eds. (1989–), Frühneuhochdeutsches Wörterbuch, Berlin / New York: De Gruyter; FWB-online, fwb-online.de
  7. ^ a b c d Duden. Das große Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache in zehn Bänden (1999), 3rd ed., Mannheim: Dudenverlag
  8. ^ Wiktionary, das freie Wörterbuch (German Wiktionary), de.wiktionary.org