schwer German · revision 34821

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=765, Old High German glosses|origins=gem-pro *swēraz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ʃveːr/, [ʃveːɐ̯], [ʃvɛɐ̯]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''schwer''' (strong nominative masculine singular schwerer, comparative schwerer, superlative am schwersten)^(Wiktionary)

+ Early New High German often spelled the vowel ''ä'', as Dasypodius and Maaler did, and Luther wrote the uninflected form ''schweer''.^(DWB|15, 2541)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|swære]], [[inh|goh|swāri]], also [[m|goh|swār]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*swār]], [[inh|gem-pro|*swēraz|t=heavy]].^(Kluge 2011|835)^(Wiktionary)^(Kroonen 2013) The same word is [[got|𐍃𐍅𐌴𐍂𐍃|tr=swērs|t=honoured, esteemed]], [[non|svárr]], [[ang|swǣr]], [[ofs|swēr]] and [[osx|swār]], and today [[nl|zwaar]] and [[sv|svår]].^(Kluge 2011|835)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kroonen 2013) Pfeifer explains the Gothic sense as “weighty”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ Outside Germanic it is related to [[lt|svarus|alt=svarùs|t=heavy]] and [[lt|sverti|alt=sver̃ti|t=to weigh]], and perhaps to a Russian word for “lever”.^(Kluge 2011|835)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kroonen 2013) Kroonen explains it as a lengthened-grade adjective to an unattested strong verb [[gem-pro|*sweraną]].^(Kroonen 2013) The sources differ on the further origin.^(Kluge 2011|835)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Orel 2003) Kluge and Orel consider [[la|sērius|t=earnest]], and Pfeifer also [[grc|ἕρμα|tr=hérma|t=prop, ballast]], from a root [[ine-pro|*u̯er-|t=to bind, hang up]] with an initial /s/;^(Kluge 2011|835)^(Orel 2003)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge calls the origin unclear and mentions a tempting link with [[grc|ἀείρω|tr=aeírō|t=to lift]].^(Kluge 2011|835)^(Orel 2003)^(Pfeifer 1993) Wiktionary gives the root as [[ine-pro|*swer-|t=heavy]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''swār'' is first recorded in glosses of 765 and ''swāri'' in glosses of the late 8th century; both are found in the Benedictine Rule and Otfrid, and ''swāri'' also in the Tatian and Notker.^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|324) The meanings were “heavy”, and already “burdensome, dangerous, serious, strict”.^(Schützeichel 2012|324)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Besides the basic sense “having weight”, the word developed already in Old High German the figurative sense “oppressive, burdensome”, used especially of work, need, illness and sin; the main later extension is “difficult”.^(Duden 7 2020|767) Middle High German ''swære'' also meant “painful, sad” and even “grand, noble”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ Paul traces further transfers: to quality, ''swaeres ezzen'' “rich food” in the 14th century, and later heavy velvet, wine and scents; to movement, ''einen schweren Gang haben''; and in seamen's language ''schwere See'' “a heavy sea” (1820).^(Paul 2002) The adverb [[schwerlich]], Middle High German ''swærlīche'' “with difficulty”, has meant “hardly” since the 16th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|767) [[Schwermut]] (16th century) is a back-formation from ''schwermütig'', [[schwerfällig]] dates from the 18th century, and [[schwerhörig]] from the 19th.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|767)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 765 – Old High German ''swār'' appears in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * Late 8th century – ''swāri'' appears in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 1150–1170 – Middle High German ''swære'' is recorded.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 14th century – ''swaeres ezzen'' “rich food” is recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 16th century – ''schwerlich'' takes the sense “hardly”;^(Pfeifer 1993) ''Schwermut'' is formed.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – ''schwerfällig'' appears.^(Duden 7 2020|767)

+ * 1820 – ''schwere See'' is recorded in seamen's language.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 19th century – ''schwerhörig'' is formed.^(Duden 7 2020|767)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of great weight, [[m|en|heavy]]: ''ein schwerer Rucksack''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Having a stated weight: ''das Paket ist zwei Kilo schwer''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+ # Needing great physical effort, hard: ''schwere Arbeit''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # [[m|en|difficult]]: ''eine schwere Prüfung''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Intellectually demanding: ''schwere Lektüre''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Great, severe, [[m|en|serious]]: ''ein schwerer Unfall'', ''ein schwerer Fehler''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(of food)'' Rich and hard to digest;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''(of scents)'' strong and sweet;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''(of air)'' humid and oppressive.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(nautical)'' Stormy: ''schwere See''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Very, greatly: ''schwer verletzt'', ''er hat sich schwer geärgert''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Schwere]]

+ * [[schwerlich]]

+ * [[beschweren]]

+ * [[Beschwerde]]

+ * [[erschweren]]

+ * [[Schwermut]]

+ * [[schwermütig]]

+ * [[schwerfällig]]

+ * [[schwerhörig]]

+ * [[Schwergewicht]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[schwierig]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}