zunächst German · revision 34987

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=16th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /tsuˈnɛːçst/, /-ˈneːçst/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''zunächst'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It fuses [[gmh|ze næhste|t=closest]], from [[m|gmh|ze|t=to, at]] and the superlative of [[m|gmh|nāch|t=near]].^(Paul 2002)^(DWB|32, 546)^(Wiktionary) The Grimms' dictionary takes it as modelled on [[zuerst]].^(DWB|32, 546) In modern terms it is [[zu]] + [[nächst]], the superlative of [[nah]].^(Wiktionary)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Grimms' dictionary finds the word in general use from the 16th century: Frisius writes ''zenächst'' and Hans Sachs ''zunechst'', at first in the spatial sense “next to, closest to”.^(DWB|32, 546) Rarer variants were ''zum nächsten'' (Wickram) and a reinforced ''zuallernächst''.^(DWB|32, 546)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The spatial sense, with a dative or with a preposition (''zunächst an'', ''zunächst bei''), is now dated or literary.^(Paul 2002)^(DWB|32, 546)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The temporal sense refers to what comes first in a sequence;^(Paul 2002)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary explains it as the view from the starting point, where the next thing to do is the first.^(Paul 2002)^(Wiktionary) From “first of all” it also came to mean “for the time being”.^(Duden GWDS 1999) Goethe sometimes used it like ''demnächst'' “soon”.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # At first, to begin with, [[m|en|initially]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # For the time being, for now.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Next, then, after the first thing.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # ''(formal)'' With the dative: [[m|en|next]] to, closest to.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nah]]

+ * [[nächst]]

+ * [[zuerst]]

+ * [[demnächst]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}