einfach German · revision 34862

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1400}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈʔaɪ̯nfax/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''einfach''' (strong nominative masculine singular einfacher, comparative einfacher, superlative am einfachsten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|de|ein|-fach]].^(Kluge 2011|234)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) Pfeifer, Paul and the Grimms' dictionary explain it as made on the model of older adjectives such as [[gmh|zwivach|t=twofold]], [[m|gmh|viervach|t=fourfold]] and [[m|gmh|manecvach|t=manifold]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)^(DWB|3, 168) The suffix [[-fach]] goes back to the noun [[Fach]], which first meant “fold”.^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)^(Duden 7 2014|244) The counterpart in English is [[m|en|onefold]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Paul and the revised Grimms' dictionary date the word to about 1400;^(Paul 2002)^(DWB2|7, 584) DWB2's first quotation (Würzburg, 1400–1411) sets a price for a long coat that is ''einfach'', not sewn from two layers, against one that is ''zwifach''.^(Paul 2002)^(DWB2|7, 584) Kluge and Pfeifer date it to the early 15th century, while Köbler lists a Middle High German ''einvach'' “simple” in Ottokar's rhymed chronicle (1301–1319).^(Kluge 2011|234)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ At first the word meant “single, done once”, as against double or manifold; from the 16th century it replaced the older [[einfältig]] in this sense, as that word took on the meaning “simple-minded”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|3, 168)^(Paul 2002) Already in the 16th century it also meant “plain, modest, unpretentious”, and later “easy to understand, easy to do”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014|244) Adelung records ''einfach'' “not compound” of numbers and words, and medical texts used it for simple remedies, Latin ''simplicia''.^(Paul 2002)^(DWB2|7, 584)

+

+ In modern German the adverb weakened to a particle that strengthens a statement, “just, simply”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The abstract noun [[Einfachheit]] appears in the early 18th century, and Goethe used [[vereinfachen]] in 1775.^(Pfeifer 1993) In Polish dialects of Silesia and Teschen the word was borrowed as ''ajnfach'' “uncomplicated”.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1301–1319 – Köbler lists ''einvach'' in Ottokar's rhymed chronicle.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * c. 1400 – ''einfach'' “single, not double” is recorded in Würzburg.^(DWB2|7, 584)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 16th century – It replaces ''einfältig'' in the sense “single” and also means “plain, modest”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1536 – Dasypodius uses it to translate Latin ''simplex''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * Early 18th century – ''Einfachheit'' appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1775 – Goethe uses ''vereinfachen''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|single]], done or made only once;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''(of a ticket)'' [[m|en|one-way]]: ''eine einfache Fahrt''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Easy, uncomplicated: ''eine einfache Frage''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Plain, clear, obvious: ''eine einfache Erklärung''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # [[m|en|modest]], unpretentious: ''ein einfaches Leben''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Simply, just, used to strengthen a statement: ''das ist einfach falsch''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Easily, without difficulty.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Einfachheit]]

+ * [[vereinfachen]]

+ * [[Vereinfachung]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ein]]

+ * [[Fach]]

+ * [[einfältig]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}