akar

Forms

akar^[1] Old forms: akarz “you want” in the Jókai Codex and akorok “I want” in 1536.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is of uncertain origin, perhaps a derivative of a stem that is not found on its own.^[2][4][5] The stem may go back to the Ugric period and be the same as that of akad and akaszt; the ending is probably the frequentative suffix -r.^[2][4][5][1] For the meaning ÚESz and Zaicz compare Latin nitor (“to lean on; to strive”).^[2][5][4]

TESz had taken it, with hesitation, as Ugric heritage, comparing Mansi and Khanty verbs meaning “to look, glance”; the shift from “look at” to “want” it compared with German absehen and Absicht (“intention”), and with Latin spectō (“to look at; to aim at”).^[3] The Ob-Ugric words have a /ŋk/ and front vowels that do not match the Hungarian word well.^[3] Budenz had already proposed this comparison in 1873.^[6] ÚESz and EWUng consider this other Ugric explanation less probable.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The derivative akarat “will, intention” may be contained in the place name Akaratia, in a charter forged with the date 1109 and known from a copy of about 1295.^[2][4] The verb itself first appears in the Jókai Codex (written after 1372, copied about 1448): ha akarz tekelletes leny, “if you want to be perfect”, already in the sense “to want”.^[3][2]

Semantic evolution

The derivatives follow from the 14th century on: akaratos “voluntary” in the Jókai Codex, later “wilful, headstrong” (about 1535); akaratlan (1636), akaratoskodik “to insist stubbornly” (1675), akaródzik “to feel like” (1831) and akarnok “climber, careerist” (ÚESz: 1891, TESz: 1892).^[2][3][5] The conjunction and adverb akár “either ... or; even” developed from a form of akar used in the sense “wish it!”, first in conditional clauses.^[4]

The NSz arranges its senses from “to intend, be about to do” and “to strive for” to “to wish, would like”, “to claim something for oneself”, “to require” (of an authority), “to ordain” (of fate) and, in dated use, “to think, suppose”, all recorded since the late 18th century.^[7] In the dialects akar also says that something is about to happen: Eső akar lenni, “it's going to rain”.^[8][9][10]

Timeline

• c. 1295 – Akaratia, a place name in a charter forged with the date 1109.^[2][4]
• after 1372 (copied c. 1448) – akarz “you want” and akaratos “voluntary” in the Jókai Codex.^[3][2]
• 1441 – akaryak in a Hungarian charter.^[11]
• 1636 – akaratlan.^[3][2]
• 1675 – akaratoskodik.^[3][2]
• 1831 – akaródzik.^[3][2]
• 1891 – akarnok “careerist”.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To intend, mean to do something; to be ready to do it (usually with an infinitive).^[12][7][1]
2. To be about to happen; of a person or thing, to be on the point of something: El akart esni.^[12][8]
3. Of a sign or remark, to mean, to hint at something.^[12]
4. To want, wish, would like (to do or have something, or that someone do something).^[12][7][1]
5. (in negative sentences) To be unwilling, or of a thing, to refuse to happen: nem akar kinyílni.^[12]
6. To claim or demand something; of an authority, to require; of fate, to ordain.^[7]
7. (dated) To think, suppose.^[7]

Word family

• akarat
• akaratos
• akaratlan
• akaratoskodik
• akaródzik
• akarnok
• akár
• készakarva

Related words

• akad
• akaszt

Usage notes

The ÉrtSz also records a dialectal and old-fashioned akar used as an adverb and conjunction, a variant of akár.^[12][13]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Gerstner, Károly (ed.) (2006–), Új magyar etimológiai szótár, Budapest: Nyelvtudományi Kutatóközpont; online at uesz.nytud.hu
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Benkő, Loránd (ed.) (1967–1976), A magyar nyelv történeti-etimológiai szótára, 3 vols., Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, p. 1, 114
4. ^ a b c d e f g Benkő, Loránd (ed.) (1993–1997), Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Ungarischen, 3 vols., Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, p. 65
5. ^ a b c d Zaicz, Gábor (ed.) (2006), Etimológiai szótár: magyar szavak és toldalékok eredete, Budapest: Tinta Könyvkiadó
6. ^ Budenz, József (1873–1881), Magyar–ugor összehasonlító szótár, Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, p. 727
7. ^ a b c d e Ittzés, Nóra (ed.) (2006–), A magyar nyelv nagyszótára, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó / Nyelvtudományi Kutatóközpont; online at nagyszotar.nytud.hu
8. ^ a b Bálint, Sándor (1957), Szegedi szótár, 2 vols., Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, p. 1, 54
9. ^ Csűry, Bálint (1935–1936), Szamosháti szótár, 2 vols., Budapest: Magyar Nyelvtudományi Társaság, p. 1, 29
10. ^ Kiss, Géza (1952), Ormánysági szótár, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, p. 6
11. ^ Szamota, István; Zolnai, Gyula (1902–1906), Magyar oklevél-szótár, Budapest: Hornyánszky, p. 9
12. ^ a b c d e f Bárczi, Géza; Országh, László (eds.) (1959–1962), A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára, 7 vols., Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online at ertelmezo.oszk.hu
13. ^ Ballagi, Mór (1867–1873), A magyar nyelv teljes szótára, 2 vols., Pest: Heckenast, p. 14