öffentlich German · revision 35015

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈœfəntlɪç/, [ˈœfn̩tlɪç]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''öffentlich''' (strong nominative masculine singular öffentlicher, comparative öffentlicher, superlative am öffentlichsten)^(Wiktionary)

+ The older form ''offenlich'' survived in places into the 16th century, and Sebastian Brant wrote ''öfflich''.^(DWB|13, 1180) The form ''offentlich'' took the umlaut in the 16th century.^(DWB|13, 1180)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|offenlich]], [[inh|goh|offanlīh]], formed [[af|goh|offan|-līh]]; the base is the adjective now [[offen]].^(Kluge 2011|666)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) The same formation is [[osx|opanlīko|t=openly]] and [[ang|openlīc]].^(Kluge 2011|666) The base [[gem-pro|*upanaz]], also in [[non|opinn]] and [[ang|open]], is formed with an n-suffix and ablaut from the same root as [[auf]];^(Kluge 2011|666)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler AHD) Pfeifer suggests an original sense “drawn or lifted up”.^(Kluge 2011|666)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ The ⟨t⟩ is a glide sound that appeared between /n/ and /l/ around 1300, and the umlaut came in with Early New High German.^(Kluge 2011|666)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|13, 1180)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adverb ''offanlīhho'' “openly, publicly” is recorded from the 8th century and the adjective ''offanlīh'' from the 9th, in the Benedictine Rule and in glosses.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Schützeichel 2012|244) Middle High German ''offenlich'' meant “evident, perceptible to all, understandable” and “undisguised”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ For a long time the word meant “plain, evident” (where ''offenbar'' is now used), as in Luther's ''es ist ein öffentlich Wunder'', and “frank, undisguised”, as in Schupp's ''ein offentlicher zorniger Feind''.^(DWB|13, 1180) The meaning “before everyone's eyes, not secret” and “open to all”, as in ''öffentliche Gebäude'', was usual by Adelung's time.^(Adelung 1793|3, 586) Kluge notes that the political sense, “made accessible to the public”, came late.^(Kluge 2011|666)

+

+ The noun ''Öffentlichkeit'' was formed in the 18th century to replace ''Publizität'', and the verb ''veröffentlichen'' “to publish” is from the 19th.^(Kluge 2011|666)^(Pfeifer 1993) ''Öffentlichkeitsarbeit'', from the second half of the 20th century, is a loan translation of English ''public relations''.^(Duden 7 2007) The adjective was borrowed as [[da|offentlig]] and [[sv|offentlig]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 8th century – The adverb ''offanlīhho'' is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 9th century – The adjective ''offanlīh'' is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * c. 1300 – The glide sound ⟨t⟩ appears in ''offentlich''.^(Kluge 2011|666)

+ * 16th century – The umlauted ''öffentlich'' becomes established.^(DWB|13, 1180)

+ * 18th century – ''Öffentlichkeit'' appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 19th century – ''veröffentlichen'' appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * Second half of the 20th century – ''Öffentlichkeitsarbeit'' translates English ''public relations''.^(Duden 7 2007)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|public]], open to everyone's sight and hearing, not secret: ''eine öffentliche Anhörung''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Open to and usable by all: ''ein öffentlicher Park''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Concerning the community or the state, coming from it: ''die öffentliche Meinung'' “public opinion”, ''der öffentliche Dienst'' “the [[m|en|civil service]]”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Öffentlichkeit]]

+ * [[veröffentlichen]]

+ * [[Veröffentlichung]]

+ * [[Öffentlichkeitsarbeit]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[offen]]

+ * [[öffnen]]

+ * [[offenbar]]

+ * [[auf]]

+ * [[en|open]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Ein öffentliches Geheimnis'' is an open secret, something already widely known.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}