erwarten German · revision 35016

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɛɐ̯ˈvaʁtən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''erwarten''' (third-person singular present erwartet, past tense erwartete, past participle erwartet, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|erwarten]], [[inh|goh|irwartēn|t=to look at, inspect]], formed [[af|goh|ir-|wartēn]]; the base is the verb now [[warten]].^(Paul 2002)^(DWB2|8, 2274)^(Köbler AHD) It corresponds to [[gml|erwārden]].^(DWB2|8, 2274) The base verb at first meant “to look out, keep watch”;^(Kluge 2011|972)^(Pfeifer 1993) [[gem-pro|*wardāną]] is also continued in [[ang|weardian]] and [[non|varða]], and is built on the root of [[wahren]].^(Kluge 2011|972)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ For waiting the older language used [[got|𐌿𐍃𐌱𐌴𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌽|tr=usbeidan]], [[m|goh|irbītan]], [[gmh|erbîten]], which survived in New High German as ⟨erbeiten⟩.^(DWB|3, 1044) As the base verb itself came to mean “to wait”, the prefixed verb took over the sense “to expect”; the Grimms compare the way [[la|exspectō]] belongs with [[m|la|spectō|t=to look at]].^(DWB|3, 1044)^(Kluge 2011|972)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Old High German verb is recorded only once, in Notker (before 1022), meaning “to look over, inspect”: Nero ''eruuarteta'' the body of his murdered mother.^(DWB2|8, 2274)^(Köbler AHD) Middle High German ''erwarten'' meant “to look up”, and also “to await, look forward to” and “to claim at law”; one of the first records is a charter of 1289.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to wait for” is already found in Geiler von Kaysersberg, and Luther uses it.^(DWB|3, 1044) Until the 18th century the verb mostly took a genitive, as in ''ich aber wil des gottes meines heils erwarten'' (Micah 7:7 in Luther's Bible), and then the accusative prevailed.^(DWB2|8, 2274)^(DWB|3, 1044) The old main sense “to wait until something happens” became dated from the 18th century and survives only in fixed phrases, while “to expect, consider likely” and “to demand of someone” have grown towards the present.^(DWB2|8, 2274)

+

+ Adelung, around 1800, records the full modern range: awaiting someone's arrival, supposing that something will happen (''Ich erwarte Briefe''), facing something without fear, and a mild word for demanding.^(Adelung 1793|1, 1951)^(Paul 2002) ''Ein Kind erwarten'' “to be pregnant” is a euphemism.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1022 – Old High German ''irwartēn'' “to inspect” appears in Notker.^(DWB2|8, 2274)

+ * 1289 – Middle High German ''erwarten'' appears in a charter.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 18th century – The accusative replaces the genitive, and the sense “to wait until” becomes dated.^(DWB2|8, 2274)

+ * 1774 – Adelung records ''wider alle Erwartung''.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|await]], look forward to someone's arrival or an event taken as certain: ''Wir erwarten heute Abend Gäste.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|expect]], consider likely: ''Für morgen ist kein Schnee zu erwarten.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To expect of someone, take as a matter of course: ''Ich erwarte von euch Pünktlichkeit.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # With a reflexive dative, to hope for something, promise oneself something from: ''Sie erwartet sich viel von der neuen Stelle.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Erwartung]]

+ * [[erwartbar]]

+ * [[unerwartet]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[warten]]

+ * [[Warte]]

+ * [[wahren]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Ein Kind erwarten'' is to be pregnant.^(Duden GWDS 1999) The noun in ''wider Erwarten'' “contrary to expectation” is the infinitive used as a noun;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002) Adelung wrote ''wider alle Erwartung'' in 1774.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}