erhalten German · revision 34885

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=early 14th century|origins=gem-pro *haldaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɛʁˈhaltən/, [ʔɛɐ̯ˈhaltn̩]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''erhalten''' (class 7 strong, third-person singular present erhält, past tense erhielt, past participle erhalten, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|erhalten]], formed [[af|de|er-|halten]].^(DWB2|8, 1791)^(Köbler MHD)^(Wiktionary DE) The sources disagree on its age: the Grimms' dictionary calls it a typically New High German word, absent from Middle High German,^(DWB|3, 834) and Pfeifer dates it to the 16th century,^(Pfeifer 1993) but the revised Grimm and Köbler quote Middle High German records from the early 14th century, and Paul dates it to about 1300.^(DWB2|8, 1791)^(Köbler MHD)^(Paul 2002) [[sv|erhålla]] and [[da|erholde]] were modelled on the German verb.^(DWB|3, 834)

+

+ Paul explains its two main senses by two functions of the prefix [[er-]]: “to hold successfully, preserve” and “to come to hold, obtain”.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The earliest record quoted by the revised Grimm is a Halle document of 1307–1315, in which a monastery is to “keep” two brothers of its order in a hermitage, that is, to maintain and support them.^(DWB2|8, 1791) Köbler lists Mechthild and a document of 1329.^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Luther's Bible ''erhalten'' still means “to hold up, preserve”: ''Der Herr erhelt alle die da fallen'' (Psalm 145:14).^(Paul 2002) This sense is now usual only for keeping something in good condition;^(Paul 2002) Luther also wrote that salt ''erhelt'' meat from decay.^(Paul 2002) The old physical sense “to hold back, hold up”, as of horses that bolt or a child about to fall, is recorded by Adelung but has given way to ''halten'' and ''festhalten''.^(Adelung 1793)^(DWB|3, 834)

+

+ The sense “to obtain” first meant reaching something with effort, as when Luther speaks of winning one victory after another; it then became largely the same as [[bekommen]], except that ''erhalten'' needs someone who gives.^(Paul 2002) In Upper German it could also mean “to save (money)”.^(Adelung 1793) The back-formation [[Erhalt]] appears in 1796 in Novalis, and [[erhältlich]] “available” about 1900.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1307–1315 – ''erhalten'' “to maintain” appears in a document from Halle.^(DWB2|8, 1791)

+ * 1329 – A document uses ''erhalten''.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 16th century – The verb becomes common.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020)

+ * 1796 – Novalis uses the noun ''Erhalt''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * c. 1900 – ''erhältlich'' “available” appears.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|receive]], be given or sent: ''einen Brief erhalten'', ''einen Preis erhalten''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To receive a punishment, a blow or an order; to gain an impression.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To obtain as a product or result: ''Aus Trauben erhält man Wein.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To [[m|en|preserve]], keep in its state: ''ein altes Haus erhalten'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''erhalten bleiben'', to survive.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To support, [[m|en|maintain]] (a family).^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Used with a past participle to form the dative passive.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Surviving, [[m|en|extant]]: ''gut erhaltene Fresken''.^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Erhalt]]

+ * [[Erhaltung]]

+ * [[erhältlich]]

+ * [[Erhalter]]

+ * [[Selbsterhaltung]]

+ * [[aufrechterhalten]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[halten]]

+ * [[behalten]]

+ * [[enthalten]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}