klar German · revision 34847

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=12th century|origins=la clārus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /klaːr/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''klar''' (strong nominative masculine singular klarer, comparative klarer, superlative am klarsten)^(Wiktionary)

+ Beside the comparative ''klarer'', the umlauted ''klärer'' and ''klärst'' were long in use, by Luther, Lessing, Goethe and Schiller among others, and Adelung recommended them.^(DWB|11, 981)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|klār]], [[bor|dum|claer]], under the influence of [[fro|cler]], from [[la|clārus|t=loud, clear-sounding; bright, clear; famous]].^(Kluge 2011|496)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)^(Wiktionary) It spread from the Lower Rhine in the 12th century and became a fashionable word of courtly poetry;^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|437)^(Paul 2002) Paul credits Heinrich von Veldeke with introducing it and Wolfram von Eschenbach with establishing it as a term of human beauty.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|437)^(Paul 2002) The Grimms' dictionary, on the other hand, holds that Old French could not have given the long /aː/ and attributes the borrowing to the language of the church.^(DWB|11, 981) Wiktionary also names [[gml|klār]] as a possible source.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The Latin adjective belongs with [[m|la|calō|t=to call out, summon]] and [[m|la|clāmō|t=to shout]]; its first sense, “loud, far-sounding”, matches that of the related [[hell]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|437) Köbler gives the root as [[ine-pro|*kel-|t=to call, shout]].^(Köbler MHD) The same word is [[nl|klaar]], [[en|clear]], [[fr|clair]] and [[sv|klar]].^(Kluge 2011|496)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Middle High German ''klār'' is first recorded in Albrecht von Halberstadt (1190–1200), and then in many courtly and religious texts, meaning “bright, shining, pure, beautiful”, also “distinct”.^(Köbler MHD)^(Pfeifer 1993) The neuter noun ''daʒ klār'' “the white of an egg” is recorded from the second half of the 13th century.^(Köbler MHD)^(DWB|11, 997)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Paul takes “shining, bright” as the first sense, which survives in [[verklären]] and in the biblical ''Klarheit'' “glory, radiance”; today the word is mostly understood negatively, “free from cloudiness”.^(Paul 2002) Applied to the mind it means “distinct, unambiguous”, already common in Luther, as in ''eine klare Vorstellung''.^(Paul 2002) In early New High German it was also an epithet of rank, “noble, illustrious”, in forms of address.^(FWB) Regionally it means “fine, finely ground”, of sand or paint.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ In the language of seamen it means “completely ready, free of obstacles”, as in ''klar zum Gefecht'' “cleared for action”, and Low German seamen's ''aufklaren'' “to clear up” passed into the standard language.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)^(Duden 7 2020|437) The derived [[aufklären]] was formed in the 16th century, and ''Aufklärung'' became a philosophical term in the 18th century, “the Enlightenment”.^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)^(Duden 7 2020|437) Austrian German keeps the noun as ''Eiklar'' or simply ''Klar'' “white of an egg”.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 12th century – Middle High German ''klār'' spreads from the Lower Rhine.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|496)

+ * 1190–1200 – ''klār'' is used by Albrecht von Halberstadt.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 1250–1300 – ''daʒ klār'' “egg white” is recorded.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 16th century – Luther often uses ''klar'' for “distinct, evident”;^(Paul 2002)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch) ''aufklären'' is formed.^(Paul 2002)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)

+ * 18th century – ''Aufklärung'' becomes a philosophical term.^(Duden 7 2020|437)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|transparent|alt=Transparent]], not cloudy: ''ein klarer Bergsee''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Not clouded by mist or cloud: ''klares Wetter''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Distinct, sharply outlined: ''eine klare Linie''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(of sounds)'' Clear and ringing, not hoarse: ''ein klarer Ton''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Sober and [[m|en|rational]], able to judge well: ''klar denken''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # [[m|en|unambiguous|alt=Unambiguous]], plain to everyone: ''eine klare Antwort''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(nautical, aviation)'' Ready for use: ''Das Boot ist klar.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(regional)'' Fine, finely ground.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Of course, obviously; as an interjection, ''klar!'' or ''na klar!'' “sure!”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[klären]]

+ * [[Klarheit]]

+ * [[aufklären]]

+ * [[Aufklärung]]

+ * [[erklären]]

+ * [[verklären]]

+ * [[Eiklar]]

+ * [[klarstellen]]

+ * [[klarkommen]]

+ * [[startklar]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hell]]

+ * [[Reklame]]

+ * [[deklamieren]]

+ * [[en|clear]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Klipp und klar'' means “quite plainly”.^(Paul 2002) ''Klar wie Kloßbrühe'' “as clear as dumpling broth” is said jokingly of something obvious, although the broth is cloudy.^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}