Problem German · revision 34850

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=16th century|origins=grc βάλλω}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /pʁoˈbleːm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Problem''' ''n'' (genitive Problems, plural Probleme, diminutive Problemchen n)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|problēma]], [[der|grc|πρόβλημα|tr=próblēma|t=something put forward; obstacle; a question set]], from [[m|grc|προβάλλω|tr=probállō|t=to throw forward, put forward]], from [[m|grc|πρό|tr=pró|t=before, forward]] and [[m|grc|βάλλω|tr=bállō|t=to throw]].^(Kluge 2011|724)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|651) It was borrowed in the 16th century, after an isolated [[gmh|problēm]].^(Kluge 2011|724)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler MHD) Until the late 18th century the word kept its Latin ending and plural, and the German form without the ending became usual in the 18th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB) Paul and the Grimms' dictionary attribute the shorter form to English [[m|en|problem]], Paul with a question mark, while Kluge links only the weaker modern sense “trouble, difficulty” with English, and only as a possibility.^(Paul 2002)^(DWB|13, 2154)^(Kluge 2011|724) The same word is [[nl|probleem]], [[fr|problème]] and [[sv|problem]].^(Kluge 2011|724)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lexer records an isolated Middle High German ''problēm''.^(Köbler MHD) In 1558 the statutes of Heidelberg University speak of ''ein gemein problema oder Fragestück'', a question put forward for disputation; at first the word belonged to philosophy and mathematics.^(DFWB)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The glossaries of the 15th and 16th centuries render Latin ''problema'' with native words such as ''retzel'' “riddle”, and attempts to replace it with ''Aufgabe'', recorded from 1525, had no lasting effect.^(DFWB) Fischart wrote in 1581 of Aristotle's ''problematen''.^(DFWB) The form ''Problem'' appears in Herder in 1766, and Lessing and Goethe used the word for a difficult or unsolved question.^(Paul 2002)^(DFWB)^(DWB|13, 2154)

+

+ From the early 20th century many compounds were formed, and in the 1920s Tucholsky mocked the fashion for the word.^(Paul 2002) The adjective [[problematisch]] is recorded in Thomasius in 1692, and Goethe often used it, as in ''problematische Naturen'';^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) [[Problematik]] dates from the early 19th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) In chess composition the word names a set position to be solved in a given number of moves.^(Duden Fremdwörterbuch 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1525 – ''Aufgabe'' is used to translate the word.^(DFWB)

+ * 1558 – ''problema'' appears in the Heidelberg university statutes.^(DFWB)

+ * 1581 – Fischart writes of Aristotle's ''problematen''.^(DFWB)

+ * 1692 – ''problematisch'' is used by Thomasius.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1766 – Herder uses the form ''Problem''.^(Paul 2002)^(DFWB)

+ * Early 19th century – ''Problematik'' appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * Early 20th century – Numerous compounds with ''Problem'' are formed.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A difficult, unsolved task or question, a [[m|en|problem]]: ''ein technisches Problem lösen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # A [[m|en|difficulty]], a trouble that stands in the way: ''Sie hat Probleme mit dem Rücken''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(chess)'' A composed chess [[m|en|puzzle]] with a set task, such as mate in a given number of moves.^(Duden Fremdwörterbuch 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[problematisch]]

+ * [[Problematik]]

+ * [[problemlos]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Parabel]]

+ * [[Ballistik]]

+ * [[en|problem]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Das ist kein Problem'' means that something causes no difficulty.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}