hív

hív¹ call

Pronunciation

• [ˈhiːv]^[1]

Forms

hív^[1]

Etymology

The verb “to call” is of uncertain origin; it may be inherited from Proto-Uralic *kaŋɜ- (“to call”), a word of the Uralic period.^[2][3][4][1] The only cognates are in the distant Samoyedic languages: Selkup kuera- (“to call”), with verbs “to call, ask for” in Nenets, Enets and Mator; ÚESz also allows the reconstruction ⟨*kanɜ-⟩.^[2][3] The comparison needs the Hungarian ⟨v⟩ and the Samoyedic nasals to go back to one Uralic nasal, as in hatvan and név, and MSzFE finds this less likely.^[2][5]

An older view takes it for the same stem as kíván “to wish”, split off in the dialects;^[3][2][5] TESz and ÚESz find this doubtful, because the origin of that verb is unclear and the change of meaning is not attested.^[3][2][5] TESz rejects Indo-Iranian and Turkic origins.^[3]

The variants ⟨híl⟩ and ⟨hín⟩ are like those of fő and szív; the forms of the type ⟨hiu⟩, ⟨hivu⟩ are unexplained.^[3][2] The modern senses of hivatás “vocation”, hivatkozik “to refer to” and perhaps hivatott “called, qualified” were probably modelled in the language reform on German Beruf, sich berufen and berufen.^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is in the Jókai Codex, copied about 1448 from a text written after 1372: vendege hyva 3ent ferencet, “his host invited Saint Francis”, in the sense “to call to oneself, summon”.^[3][2][6]

Semantic evolution

The Jókai Codex already has all three main senses: “to call, summon”, “to name”, and “to call upon someone to do a task or take an office”.^[3][2] NySz quotes it from the codices on for Latin voco and calo.^[7] The derivatives hivat “to send for”, hívás “call”, hívatlan “uninvited” and hívogat (1508) are old;^[2][4] hivatás meant “a call made by another” in 1783 and “vocation, profession” from 1804.^[2][4] The modern sense “to telephone” is in the ÉrtSz.^[8]

The dialects have many forms of the stem: híl, hín, hiju, hé, héj, híll.^[3][9]

Timeline

• c. 1448 – hyva “invited” and the derivative hivat in the Jókai Codex (text written after 1372).^[3][2]
• c. 1450 – hívás and hívatlan in the Vienna Codex.^[2]
• c. 1456 – hihatatlan “irrevocable”.^[2]
• 1508 – hívogat “to keep calling”.^[3][4]
• 1595 – hivatott “called”.^[3]
• 1783 – hivatás “calling (by another)”; 1804 “vocation”.^[3][2]
• 1803 – hivatkozik, first “to get oneself invited”; 1830 “to refer to”.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To call, summon: to ask someone by word or sign to come: Hívd ide a gyerekeket!^[8][1]
2. To invite: Vacsorára hívtak minket.^[8]
3. To call by telephone, ring: Holnap hívlak.^[8][1]
4. To call upon someone for a task or duty: fegyverbe hív.^[8][3]
5. To call, name: Hogy hívnak? “What is your name?”^[1][3]

Word family

• hivatal
• hívat
• hívatlan
• hívás
• hívogat
• hivatás
• hivatkozik
• hivatott

hív² faithful; follower

Pronunciation

• [ˈhiːv]^[1]

Forms

hív (plural hívek)^[1]

Etymology

The noun “follower” is the variant ⟨hív⟩ of the adjective hű “faithful”, used as a noun; the archaic adjective ⟨hív⟩ is the same variant.^[3][2][4][1] The noun kept the adjective's sense “faithful to someone, trusting in someone”.^[3] It is used only in the plural or with a possessive suffix.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is in the Jókai Codex, copied about 1448 from a text written after 1372: hywy myatt, “for the sake of his followers”, in the sense “follower, adherent”.^[3][2]

Semantic evolution

The sense “member of a religious community, believer” is recorded from 1526, “sweetheart” from 1790 in Kazinczy, and the closing formula of letters híve “yours faithfully” from 1848 in Kossuth.^[3][2] The adjective lives on in poetry and archaic style.^[8][1]

Timeline

• c. 1448 – hywy “his followers” in the Jókai Codex (text written after 1372).^[3][2]
• 1526 – “believer, member of a congregation” in the Székelyudvarhely Codex.^[3][2]
• 1790 – “sweetheart” in Kazinczy.^[3][2]
• 1848 – híve closing a letter, in Kossuth.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (archaic, poetic) faithful, loyal; the same as hű.^[8][1]

Noun

1. (with a possessive suffix) A follower, adherent; a supporter of an idea or cause: a zene hívei.^[8][1]
2. (dated) A sweetheart; a close friend.^[8]
3. In the closing of a letter: tisztelő híve “yours respectfully”.^[8]
4. (plural) The faithful, the members of a congregation: Kedves hívek!^[8][1]