wohl German · revision 34814

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=8th century, Old High German|origins=ine-pro *welh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /voːl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''wohl''' (comparative ''wohler'', superlative ''am wohlsten''; in the sense “well, thoroughly” ''besser'', ''am besten'')^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ The spelling with ''h'' began in the 16th century and prevailed in the 18th, although ''wol'' was still written in the 19th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) The short vowel survives in [[Wollust]] and in colloquial ''jawoll''.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|wol]], [[inh|goh|wola]], [[inh|gem-pro|*wela|t=well]], the adverb that served for [[gut]] in all the Germanic languages.^(Kluge 2011|994)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) Old High German also had [[m|goh|wela]] and [[m|goh|wala]]: the /o/ of the main form comes from /e/ after /w/, as in [[Woche]], and the forms with /a/ are an ablaut grade, more common in Low German.^(DWB|30, 1025)^(Pfeifer 1993) The same word is [[osx|wela]], [[ofs|wel]], [[ang|wel]] and [[non|vel]], and today [[nl|wel]], [[en|well]] and [[sv|väl]]; [[got|𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰|tr=waila]] belongs here as well, but its vowel is unexplained.^(Kluge 2011|994)^(Orel 2003)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ Kluge, Pfeifer and the Duden derive it from an adjective formation of the root of [[wollen]], also in [[wählen]] and [[Wille]], so that it first meant “as wished, desirable”.^(Kluge 2011|994)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|938) Kluge compares [[cy|gwell|t=better]] and [[sa|वर|tr=vára|t=excellent, better]].^(Kluge 2011|994) Wiktionary gives the root as [[ine-pro|*welh₁-|t=to want]].^(Wiktionary) The Grimms' dictionary reports that Brugmann at first separated the Gothic word and linked it with [[sa|वेला|tr=vélā|t=right moment]], but later gave up that idea.^(DWB|30, 1025)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''wola'' and ''wela'' are recorded from the 8th century, in the Hildebrandslied, the Benedictine Rule, the Monsee fragments and the glosses, meaning “well, good, very”, also as an exclamation “well then”.^(Kluge 2011|994)^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|397) Already in Old High German it could be a weakened particle of assurance, assumption or emphasis.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Paul explains that the word was the adverb of ''gut'' and was gradually pushed back as ''gut'' took over that role.^(Paul 2002) It held its place for feelings (''mir ist wohl'', ''das tut wohl''), in contrast to ''weh'', and for health, where it is used predicatively like an adjective and opposed by [[unwohl]]; this use formed new comparatives, ''wohler'' and ''am wohlsten'', instead of the old ones shared with ''gut''.^(Paul 2002)^(Adelung 1793) Elsewhere it could still replace ''gut'' until the 19th century, as in Luther's ''daß dir's wohl gehe''.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The noun [[Wohl]] “well-being” appears in the 15th century, first in the pair ''wohl und weh'', and became common only in the 18th century, also in toasts.^(DWB|30, 1070)^(Pfeifer 1993) [[Wohltat]], Old High German ''wolatāt'' (9th century), is a loan translation of Latin ''beneficium'', and [[Wohlwollen]] (16th century) of ''benevolentia''.^(Duden 7 2020|938)^(Pfeifer 1993) [[wohlhabend]] goes back to Middle High German ''wol haben'' “to be well” (14th century), and [[Wohlstand]] moved from “well-being, propriety” (16th century) to “prosperity” (18th century).^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|938)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 8th century – Old High German ''wola'' and ''wela'' are recorded.^(Kluge 2011|994)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 9th century – ''wolatāt'' “good deed” appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 14th century – ''wolhabend'' “wealthy” appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 15th century – The noun ''Wohl'' appears in ''wohl und weh''.^(DWB|30, 1070)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 16th century – The spelling with ''h'' begins;^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|938) ''Wohlstand'' and ''Wohlwollen'' appear.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|938)

+ * Early 18th century – ''wohlig'' “comfortable” appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – The spelling ''wohl'' prevails.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(mostly formal)'' [[m|en|well|alt=Well]], in good health or spirits: ''Ich fühle mich heute nicht wohl.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Pleasant, comfortable: ''Bei euch ist mir immer wohl.'';^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''leb wohl'', farewell.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(formal)'' Well, thoroughly: ''ein wohl überlegter Plan''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Certainly, indeed, contradicting a doubt: ''Das weiß ich wohl!''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # With ''aber'', conceding something: admittedly.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # About, [[m|en|approximately]]: ''Es waren wohl hundert Leute da.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(regional, Austria, South Tyrol)'' Yes, on the contrary, in reply to a negative statement.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Particle===

+ # Probably, presumably, expressing an assumption: ''Er ist wohl schon gegangen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Adding emphasis to a statement or demand: ''Du wirst wohl warten können!''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Wohl]]

+ * [[wohlig]]

+ * [[unwohl]]

+ * [[jawohl]]

+ * [[sowohl]]

+ * [[Lebewohl]]

+ * [[Wohlbefinden]]

+ * [[wohlfühlen]]

+ * [[Wohltat]]

+ * [[Wohltäter]]

+ * [[Wohlwollen]]

+ * [[wohlhabend]]

+ * [[Wohlstand]]

+ * [[Wohlfahrt]]

+ * [[wohlauf]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wollen]]

+ * [[Wille]]

+ * [[wählen]]

+ * [[Wollust]]

+ * [[en|well]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Wohl oder übel'', “whether one likes it or not”, and the toast ''wohl bekomm's'' are fixed phrases.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}