erklären German · revision 34795

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1279–1298, Braunschweig rhymed chronicle|origins=la clārus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɛɐ̯ˈklɛːʁən/, /ɛɐ̯ˈkleːʁən/, [-kleːɐ̯n]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''erklären''' (third-person singular present erklärt, past tense erklärte, past participle erklärt, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|erklæren|t=to make clear]], formed [[af|gmh|er-|klæren|t2=to clear]] from [[m|gmh|klār|t=clear]] (modern [[klar]]).^(DWB2|8, 1880)^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE) The adjective came into German in the 12th century from the Lower Rhine, borrowed from [[la|clārus|t=bright, clear]] through Old French [[m|fro|cler]] and Middle Dutch [[m|dum|claer]].^(Kluge 2011|496)^(Duden 7 2020)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Middle High German verb ''erklæren'' meant “to make clear, brighten” and “to become clear”, and also “to explain, reveal”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Köbler MHD) The first quotation in the revised Grimm dictionary for “to explain” is from the Braunschweig rhymed chronicle (1279–1298).^(DWB2|8, 1880)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Older German used the verb in the literal sense “to make clean or bright”, of water, eyes or sight, into the 17th century: Hohberg writes that rue ''erkläret'' dim eyes.^(DWB|3, 875)^(FWB) Paul notes that of the general meaning “to make clear” only two special senses survive: “to explain” and “to declare publicly”, as in ''jemandem den Krieg erklären'' or ''jemanden für schuldig erklären''.^(Paul 2002) The reflexive ''sich erklären'' “to state one's view” was common in the 18th century.^(Paul 2002) [[Erklärung]] is recorded from the 15th century.^(Duden 7 2020)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 12th century – Middle High German ''klār'' spreads from the Lower Rhine.^(Kluge 2011|496)^(Duden 7 2020)

+ * 1279–1298 – ''erklæren'' “to explain” in the Braunschweig rhymed chronicle.^(DWB2|8, 1880)

+ * 15th century – The noun ''Erklärung'' appears.^(Duden 7 2020)

+ * 17th century – The sense “to make the sight clear” is still used (Opitz, Hohberg).^(DWB|3, 875)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|explain]], make something clear to someone: ''Kannst du mir die Regel erklären?''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To give the reason for something, account for it;^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''sich erklären'': to be explained by something.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To [[m|en|declare]], state officially: ''Der Minister erklärte seinen Rücktritt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''sich erklären'': to state one's position, declare oneself for or against someone.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+ # To declare someone or something to be something: ''jemanden für tot erklären''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Erklärung]]

+ * [[erklärlich]]

+ * [[erklärt]]

+ * [[bereiterklären]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[klar]]

+ * [[klären]]

+ * [[verklären]]

+ * [[aufklären]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}