stark German · revision 34897

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=8th century, Old High German glosses|origins=gem-pro *starkuz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ʃtark/, [ʃtaʁk], [ʃtaɐ̯k]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''stark''' (strong nominative masculine singular starker, comparative stärker, superlative am stärksten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|starc]], [[inh|goh|starc]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*stark]], [[inh|gem-pro|*starkuz|t=stiff; strong]].^(Kluge 2011|877)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) Kluge reconstructs a u-stem, while Pfeifer and Kroonen give an a-stem.^(Kluge 2011|877)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kroonen 2013) The same word is [[osx|stark]], [[ofs|sterk]], [[ang|stearc|t=stiff, rigid, strong]] and [[non|sterkr]], and today [[nl|sterk]], [[en|stark]] and [[sv|stark]].^(Kluge 2011|877)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kroonen 2013)

+

+ The original sense seems to have been “stiff, rigid”, which English keeps; from it came “unbending”, then “firm, powerful”.^(Kluge 2011|877)^(Duden 7 2020) The word is related by ablaut to verbs meaning “to stiffen”, [[goh|gistorchanēn]], [[non|storkna|t=to stiffen, dry up]] and [[got|𐌲𐌰𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌺𐌽𐌰𐌽|tr=gastaurknan|t=to wither]], which point to a lost strong verb.^(Kluge 2011|877)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020) Kluge, Pfeifer and the Duden place it, with [[starren]], under the root [[ine-pro|*(s)ter-|t=stiff, rigid]], with a guttural extension that is also seen in [[Storch]] and [[stracks]].^(Kluge 2011|877)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020) Kroonen takes it as an o-grade adjective of a root [[m|ine-pro|*sterg-]] and compares [[lt|strė́gti|t=to harden, freeze]].^(Kroonen 2013)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''starc'' is recorded in glosses from the late 8th century, according to Köbler (the EWA dates the glosses to the 9th), and in Otfrid, Notker and the Benedictine Rule.^(Köbler AHD)^(EWA|8, 1000)^(Schützeichel 2012|311) It meant “strong, mighty, firm, hard, severe” and also “stiff”, rendering Latin ''fortis'', ''firmus'', ''durus'' and ''rigidus''.^(EWA|8, 1000)^(Köbler AHD) Otfrid writes ''sîs stark io sô stein'' “be ever as strong as stone”.^(DWB|17, 869)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Early on the word meant “resistant”, and until the 18th century also “healthy”, mirroring the development of [[krank]].^(Paul 2002) It came to refer above all to bodily strength, and then to firmness (Luther's ''ein starcker Thurn'', ''starck im glauben'').^(Paul 2002)^(Duden 7 2020) Middle High German also used it for what is hard to bear, “bad, severe”, the source of the indignant ''ein starkes Stück'' and ''starker Tobak'' (recorded in 1887).^(Paul 2002)^(Lexer 1872|2, 1142) In the 18th century Steinbach records it as a polite word for “stout”.^(Paul 2002) The youthful exclamation ''stark!'' “great!” is recent.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ In grammar Jacob Grimm introduced the terms “strong” and “weak” inflection (''Deutsche Grammatik'', 1822), calling the strong preterite a chief beauty of the language.^(Paul 2002) English took over the term ''strong'' for German grammar in 1841, and ''stark'' and ''stärker'' as musical directions.^(LWP)

+

+ The noun ''Stärke'' “starch” is not the abstract noun of the adjective but a back-formation from ''stärken'' in the sense “to stiffen laundry”, recorded since the 17th century; the Duden cites Middle High German ''sterke'' “starch” from the 13th century.^(Kluge 2011|877)^(Duden 7 2020)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 8th century – Old High German ''starc'' appears in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 863–871 – Otfrid compares a steadfast man to stone: ''stark io sô stein''.^(DWB|17, 869)

+ * 13th century – Middle High German ''sterke'' names starch.^(Duden 7 2020)

+ * 17th century – ''Stärke'' “laundry starch” is formed from ''stärken''.^(Kluge 2011|877)

+ * 1822 – Jacob Grimm distinguishes strong and weak inflection.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1841 – English uses ''strong'' in this sense of German grammar.^(LWP)

+ * 1887 – ''starker Tobak'' is recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having great physical [[m|en|strength]], [[m|en|strong]]; also strong-willed, firm: ''ein starker Glaube''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Thick and [[m|en|sturdy]];^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''(euphemistic)'' [[m|en|stout]]; of a given thickness: ''eine zehn Zentimeter starke Platte''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Numerous; numbering a given amount: ''eine dreißig Mann starke Truppe''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Highly concentrated, [[m|en|potent]]: ''starker Tee''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Powerful, of high performance: ''ein starker Motor''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Good at something, skilled; excellent: ''Sie ist stark in Chemie.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|intense]], heavy: ''starker Regen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(youth slang, slightly dated)'' Great, [[m|en|awesome]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Strong: forming the past with a change of stem vowel (verbs) or with the full set of endings (adjectives, nouns).^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Stärke]]

+ * [[stärken]]

+ * [[bestärken]]

+ * [[verstärken]]

+ * [[erstarken]]

+ * [[Starkstrom]]

+ * [[Starkregen]]

+ * [[halbstark]]

+ * [[affenstark]]

+ * [[willensstark]]

+ * [[nervenstark]]

+ * [[ausdrucksstark]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[starren]]

+ * [[Storch]]

+ * [[stracks]]

+ * [[en|stark]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Sich für jemanden stark machen'' is to speak up for someone or something with all one's energy.^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''Das ist ein starkes Stück'' “that's a bit much” expresses indignation.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}