erreichen German · revision 35005

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1000, Notker|origins=gmw-pro *raikijan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɛɐ̯ˈʁaɪ̯çən/, [ʔɛɐ̯ˈʁaɪ̯çən], [-çn̩]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''erreichen''' (third-person singular present erreicht, past tense erreichte, past participle erreicht, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|erreichen|t=to reach by stretching out, hit, grasp]], [[inh|goh|irreihhen|t=to reach, catch up]], formed [[af|goh|ir-|reihhen]], now [[er-]] and [[reichen]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB2|8, 2083)^(Wiktionary) Beside it Old High German had [[m|goh|irreihhōn|t=to grasp mentally, understand]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler AHD) The same formation is [[gml|errēiken]].^(DWB2|8, 2083)

+

+ The base verb is [[gmw-pro|*raikijan|t=to reach]], also in [[ang|rǣcan]] (English [[m|en|reach]]) and [[ofs|rēka]].^(Kluge 2011|755)^(Pfeifer 1993) Pfeifer connects it with [[lt|réižti|t=to stretch]], [[sga|riag|t=torture (by stretching the limbs)]] and a root [[ine-pro|*rēig̑-|t=to stretch out, reach with outstretched hand]], close to the root [[ine-pro|*reg̑-]] of [[recht]].^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge considers the same connections but advises caution, since the family has no close relatives and its sounds are hard to judge.^(Kluge 2011|755)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''irreihhen'' and ''irreihhōn'' are found only in Notker, around 1000, meaning “to reach, attain” and “to grasp, understand”.^(Schützeichel 2012|257)^(Köbler AHD) Notker asks how the soul, which cannot rise above itself, could reach God, who is so high above it: ''uuio irreihti sî danne den der obe iro so hoho ist''.^(DWB2|8, 2083)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle High German ''erreichen'', recorded from the Kaiserchronik (about 1150), meant “to reach by stretching, hit, grasp, understand, obtain, overtake”.^(Köbler MHD)^(Pfeifer 1993) Paul traces the uses: first spatial, “to reach, get as far as”, as in Schiller's ''Tell'' (''Ihm gehört das Weite, / Was sein Pfeil erreicht'') and Goethe's ''Erlkönig'' (''Erreicht den Hof mit Mühe und Noth''); then “to find someone” from late Middle High German; and “to reach an age” from the 15th century.^(Paul 2002) The sense “to grasp mentally”, from late Old High German, is now obsolete.^(Paul 2002)^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ The sense “to achieve, obtain” came early: Luther's Bible says that however much one says, one cannot attain it (Sirach 43:29), and it became one of the two main senses of the modern word.^(DWB|3, 943)^(DWB2|8, 2083) In the modern language it also means “to get one's way” and “to contact someone”, as in ''telefonisch erreichen''.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old High German ''irreihhen'' and ''irreihhōn'' are used by Notker.^(Köbler AHD)^(DWB2|8, 2083)

+ * c. 1150 – Middle High German ''erreichen'' appears in the Kaiserchronik.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * Late Middle High German – First record of the sense “to find, meet someone”.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 15th century – ''ein Alter erreichen'' “to reach an age” is recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|reach]] something by stretching out, so as to touch or grasp it: ''Ich erreiche das oberste Brett nicht.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To get to, [[m|en|arrive]] at a place or person; to catch a train or connection; to reach a level, stage or age: ''Wir erreichten das Dorf am Abend.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|contact]], to get in touch with: ''Sie ist telefonisch nicht zu erreichen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|achieve]], to get one's way: ''Mit Geduld erreicht man mehr.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Erreichung]]

+ * [[erreichbar]]

+ * [[unerreichbar]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[reichen]]

+ * [[gereichen]]

+ * [[Bereich]]

+ * [[en|reach]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}