leicht German · revision 34988

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=765, Old High German glosses|origins=gem-pro *linhtaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /laɪ̯çt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''leicht''' (strong nominative masculine singular leichter, comparative leichter, superlative am leichtesten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|līht|alt=līht(e)]], [[inh|goh|līhti]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*lį̄ht]], [[inh|gem-pro|*linhtaz|t=light in weight]].^(Kluge 2011|569)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) The same adjective is [[got|𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃|tr=leihts]], [[non|léttr]], [[ang|lēoht]], [[ofs|līchte]] and [[osx|līht-]], and today [[nl|licht]], [[en|light]] and [[sv|lätt]].^(Kluge 2011|569)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB)

+

+ Pfeifer explains the Germanic long vowel as the result of a lost nasal with compensatory lengthening, from a form with /n/ before /h/.^(Pfeifer 1993) Outside Germanic the word has relatives without the t-suffix: [[sa|लघु|tr=laghú|t=light, easy, small]], [[grc|ἐλαχύς|tr=elakhús|t=small, slight]], [[lt|lengvas|alt=leñgvas|t=light]] and [[la|levis|t=light]], and Pfeifer adds [[cu|льгъкъ|tr=lĭgŭkŭ]] and [[ru|лёгкий|tr=ljógkij]].^(Kluge 2011|569)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge traces the Germanic form to an old consonant stem and the others to a u-stem of the same root;^(Kluge 2011|569) Wiktionary sets it up as [[ine-pro|*h₁lengʷʰ-|t=lightweight; swift]], and Pfeifer as a nasalised variant of [[ine-pro|*legu̯h-|t=light in movement and weight]].^(Wiktionary)^(Pfeifer 1993) The Grimms' dictionary concludes from the cognates that the sense grew out of the idea of “small, slight”.^(DWB|12, 629)

+

+ Duden and Paul connect the root with [[gelingen]], and Pfeifer also with [[Lunge]] and [[lungern]];^(Duden 7 2020|505)^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge allows the link in principle but notes that the verb is found only in German, which speaks against it.^(Kluge 2011|569)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''līhti'' is first recorded in glosses of 765, and the shorter ''līht'' from the 11th century; it occurs in Notker, Otfrid and Tatian.^(Köbler AHD)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Schützeichel 2012|201) Its senses were “light, slight, of little weight” and also “frivolous, unsteady”.^(Schützeichel 2012|201)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Paul notes that ''leicht'' follows ''schwer'' through almost every shade of meaning.^(Paul 2002) From physical weight it moved to things that are light to bear, then to “not difficult”, and also to “slight, minor” (a light rain, a slight doubt) and to food and cigarettes that are easy on the body.^(Paul 2002)^(DWB) Older German also used it for “perhaps”, like [[vielleicht]], and in Early New High German it described coins of low gold or silver weight, and so “cheap”.^(Paul 2002)^(FWB) The adverb ''leichtlich'' “easily, readily” was common in the 16th and 17th centuries and was still used by Goethe.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ What is not weighed down can also be called light, as in a light heart or a light mind, and this gave the compounds ''leichtfertig'', in Middle High German “quick in movement”, later “careless”, and ''leichtsinnig'', which meant “cheerful, carefree” in the 16th century and “thoughtless” from the 17th.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) In Austria and Bavaria ''leicht'' is also a modal particle in questions, expressing surprise or suspicion.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 765 – Old High German ''līhti'' appears in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 11th century – The short form ''līht'' is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * c. 1000 – The verb ''līhterōn'' “to make lighter”, formed from the comparative, appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 16th century – ''leichtgläubig'' “credulous” and ''leichtsinnig'' “carefree” are recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 17th century – ''leichtsinnig'' takes on the sense “thoughtless, reckless”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – ''Leichtsinn'' gradually displaces ''Leichtsinnigkeit''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of little [[m|en|weight]], not heavy.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Not heavy in build: thin (of clothing), not massive (of buildings), small-calibre (of weapons).^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # [[m|en|nimble|alt=Nimble]], agile, graceful in movement.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # [[m|en|easy|alt=Easy]], not difficult, needing little effort.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|slight|alt=Slight]], of small degree.^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Low in calories, easy to [[m|en|digest]] (of food).^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|slightly|alt=Slightly]].^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|easily|alt=Easily]], readily.^(Wiktionary)^(Paul 2002)

+ # ''(Austria, Bavaria)'' In questions, a [[m|en|modal particle]] of surprise or suspicion: really, perhaps.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[leichtfertig]]

+ * [[leichtgläubig]]

+ * [[Leichtsinn]]

+ * [[leichtsinnig]]

+ * [[Leichtigkeit]]

+ * [[kinderleicht]]

+ * [[Leichtathletik]]

+ * [[Leichtmetall]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[erleichtern]]

+ * [[Leichtheit]]

+ * [[gelingen]]

+ * [[Lunge]]

+ * [[lungern]]

+ * [[en|light]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}