davon German · revision 34811

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=12th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /daˈfɔn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''davon''' (adverb; stressed on the second syllable, on the first for emphasis)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ The form with ''r'', ''darvon'', competed with ''davon'' from the 14th to the 17th century and was almost as frequent in the 16th; since about 1800 only ''davon'' is used.^(DWB2|6, 419) Luther wrote ''davon'', while Maaler had ''darvon''.^(DWB|2, 858)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|dāvon]], formed [[af|gmh|dā|von|t1=there|t2=from]].^(DWB2|6, 419)^(Wiktionary)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The same compound is [[gml|dārvan]], [[dum|daervan]], [[nl|daarvan]] and [[ofs|therfon]].^(DWB2|6, 419) It has no counterpart in Gothic, English or the Scandinavian languages, which lack the preposition [[von]].^(DWB|2, 858)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The word is recorded from the beginning of Middle High German writing in the 12th century, mostly in the form without ''r''.^(DWB2|6, 419) It referred to the starting point from which something comes or is measured, and already in Middle High German it was partitive, “of it”, with verbs of drinking and buying.^(DWB2|6, 419)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Paul notes that the adverb expresses both spatial and abstract relations and often stands for a prepositional phrase, with verbs of speaking, hearing and knowing.^(Paul 2002) The phrase ''auf und davon'' “up and away” dates from the 15th century.^(Paul 2002) Combinations with verbs began in Middle High German with [[davonkommen]] “to escape”, and Early New High German added ''davonjagen'', [[davonlaufen]], ''davonmachen'' and ''davontragen'';^(Paul 2002) Luther has ''davontrollen''.^(Paul 2002) The title of the German version of Thornton Wilder's play ''The Skin of Our Teeth'', ''Wir sind noch einmal davongekommen'', uses the oldest of them.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The Grimms describe it as the opposite of [[dazu]], following all the senses of the preposition.^(DWB|2, 858) In northern Germany the parts are often separated, with ''da'' at the head of the clause and ''von'' at its end.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 12th century – ''dāvon'' appears in Middle High German.^(DWB2|6, 419)

+ * 15th century – ''auf und davon'' is recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 16th century – ''darvon'' is almost as frequent as ''davon''.^(DWB2|6, 419)

+ * c. 1800 – Only ''davon'' remains in use.^(DWB2|6, 419)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Away from it, at a distance from that place: ''Der Hof liegt nicht weit davon.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # [[m|en|off|alt=Off]] it, from it as a starting point: ''Von der Straße zweigt davon ein Weg ab.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # About it, concerning it: ''Davon habe ich nichts gewusst.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Because of it, by that means: ''Das kommt davon!'', that is the result.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Of it, of them, as a part: ''Nimm dir davon, so viel du willst.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # From it, out of that material or means: ''Davon können sie kaum leben.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[davonkommen]]

+ * [[davonlaufen]]

+ * [[davontragen]]

+ * [[davonmachen]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[da]]

+ * [[von]]

+ * [[dazu]]

+ * [[nl|daarvan]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}