schnell German · revision 34842

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=3rd quarter of the 8th century, Old High German glosses|origins=gem-pro *snellaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ʃnɛl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''schnell''' (strong nominative masculine singular schneller, comparative schneller, superlative am schnellsten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|snel]], [[inh|goh|snel]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*snel]], [[inh|gem-pro|*snellaz|t=active, bold, quick]].^(Kluge 2011|820)^(Wiktionary)^(Orel 2003) The same word is [[non|snjallr|t=able, eloquent]], [[ang|snell]], [[ofs|snell]] and [[osx|snel]], and today [[nl|snel]], [[sv|snäll|t=kind, good]] and [[is|snjallur]];^(Kluge 2011|820)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Orel 2003)^(Wiktionary DE) Gothic has no such word.^(Kluge 2011|820)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Orel 2003)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ Its origin is unclear.^(Kluge 2011|820)^(Orel 2003)^(Paul 2002) Pfeifer suggests a basic sense “eager, quick to seize, sharp”, compares [[non|snafðr|t=eager]], and connects it with the imitative words beginning in /sn/, such as [[Schnabel]].^(Pfeifer 1993) Wiktionary mentions a derivation from [[ine-pro|*snedʰ-|t=to cut]], but notes that it is doubted.^(Wiktionary) Kluge and the Duden relate it by ablaut to [[Schnalle]] and [[schnalzen]].^(Kluge 2011|820)^(Duden 7 2014|752)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''snel'' is first recorded in glosses of the third quarter of the 8th century, and then in Otfrid, the ''Ludwigslied'' and Notker, meaning “quick, ready, nimble, lively, vigorous, brave”.^(EWA|8, 559)^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|300) It is also part of Old High German personal names such as ''Snello'' and ''Snelperht''.^(EWA|8, 559)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The earlier senses were much wider than today: Old High German and Middle High German ''snel'' meant “nimble, strong, brave”, a praising epithet of heroes, and the sense “fast” is recorded only from the early 11th century.^(Duden 7 2014|752)^(Paul 2002) Pfeifer compares the development of [[bald]], from “eager, bold” to “quick”, and quotes the 11th-century ''snellemo rosse'', “with an eager, swift horse”.^(Pfeifer 1993) The sense “strong” was still dominant in Middle High German but is no longer found in Luther.^(Paul 2002) Dutch ''snel'' now also means only “fast”, while Swedish ''snäll'' has come to mean “kind”.^(Duden 7 2014|752)

+

+ Italian ''snello'' and Old French ''isnel'' were borrowed from the Germanic word.^(DWB|15, 1286) Swedish ''snälltåg'' “express train” is a loan translation of German [[Schnellzug]], and Russian ''шнель'' is borrowed from the German word.^(Duden 7 2014|752)^(Wiktionary) Literary German long kept the adverb ''schnelle'', as in Goethe's ''Faust''.^(Paul 2002)^(DWB|15, 1286) The noun [[Stromschnelle]] “rapids” dates from the end of the 18th century, and ''Schnelle'' in this sense from the 19th.^(Duden 7 2014|752)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 3rd quarter of the 8th century – Old High German ''snel'' appears in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)^(EWA|8, 559)

+ * 863–871 – The adverb ''snello'' is used by Otfrid.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * Early 11th century – The sense “fast” is recorded.^(Duden 7 2014|752)

+ * 16th century – Luther no longer uses it for “strong”.^(Paul 2002)

+ * End of the 18th century – ''Stromschnelle'' “rapids” is formed.^(Duden 7 2014|752)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|fast|alt=Fast]], moving at high speed: ''ein schnelles Pferd''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|quick|alt=Quick]], happening in a short time: ''eine schnelle Antwort''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Allowing high speeds: ''eine schnelle Strecke''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Done or made with little effort or time: ''ein schnelles Essen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Hasty, rash.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|quickly|alt=Quickly]].^(Wiktionary)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Again, in a question about something one ought to know: ''Wie hieß sie noch schnell?''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Schnelligkeit]]

+ * [[schnellen]]

+ * [[Schnelle]]

+ * [[Stromschnelle]]

+ * [[Schnellzug]]

+ * [[vorschnell]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Schnalle]]

+ * [[schnalzen]]

+ * [[en|snell]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Mach schnell!'' is a colloquial “hurry up!”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}