April German · revision 35021

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=12th century, Old High German glosses|origins=la Aprīlis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /aˈpʁɪl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''April''' ''m'' (genitive April or Aprils, plural Aprile)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|aberelle]], [[inh|goh|abrello]], [[bor|la|Aprīlis|t=April]].^(Kluge 2011|55)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(EWA|1, 26) The borrowing replaced the native [[goh|ōstarmānōd|t=Easter month]] (see [[Ostern]]).^(Kluge 2011|55)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The early forms with -e-, which lasted in Upper German into the 16th century, point to a form [[la-med|*aƀrel-]] with a voiced labial fricative, as in [[fr|avril]], and a vowel lowered from /iː/ to /e/; the doubled -ll- is found only in High German, and the weak masculine inflection followed the month names [[goh|merzo|t=March]] and [[m|gmh|meie|t=May]].^(EWA|1, 26)^(DWB2) Under learned Latin influence these forms gave way to [[m|gmh|abrille]] and [[m|gmh|aprille]], and the present form prevailed in the 18th century.^(EWA|1, 26)^(DWB2|3, 172)

+

+ The Latin name, that of the second month of the old Roman year beginning in March, is of uncertain origin.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|104) Pfeifer and the revised Grimms' dictionary see in it most probably a comparative formation meaning “the second, following (month)”, from [[ine-pro|*apo-|t=off, away]] (compare [[aber]]).^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB2|3, 172) Kluge mentions a connection with [[grc|Ἀφροδίτη|tr=Aphrodítē]] (Roman [[m|la|Venus]]), and Wahrig also lists [[m|la|aprīcus|t=sunny]] and [[m|la|aperiō|t=to open]].^(Kluge 2011|55)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch) The last explanation, from the ancient authors, is repeated in a Middle High German natural history from Mainau: the month opens the pores of the earth and the trees.^(EWA|1, 26)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''abrello'' occurs three times in glosses, all of the 12th century and so already Middle High German in date; twice it stands beside ''ostermanoth'' as a synonym.^(EWA|1, 26)^(AWB|1, 19) Heinrich von Veldeke, about 1170–1190, writes ''in den aprillen / sô dî blûmen springen'' (“in April, when the flowers spring up”).^(DWB2|3, 172)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''April'' appeared in many variants from Middle High German on, often still treated as a foreign word (''mensis Aprilis''), and replaced the native ''ōstermānōt'' only slowly, finally in the 18th and 19th centuries.^(Pfeifer 1993) The weak inflection survives in ''Aprillenwetter'' and in proverbs such as Abraham a Sancta Clara's ''wie das wetter im aprilen'' “like the weather in April”.^(EWA|1, 26)^(DWB2|3, 172) ''Aprilwetter'', changeable cool weather, is recorded in 1529.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The custom of April fools reached Germany from France, probably in the late 16th century; the Duden mentions that Charles IX moved New Year's Day from 1 April to 1 January in 1564.^(DWB|1, 538)^(Duden 7 2020|104) ''Jemanden in den April schicken'' is recorded from 1618,^(Paul 2002)^(Duden 7 2020|104) and ''Aprilnarr'' (1697) follows English ''April fool''.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 12th century – Old High German ''abrello'' in glosses.^(EWA|1, 26)^(Kluge 2011|55)

+ * c. 1170–1190 – Heinrich von Veldeke uses ''aprille''.^(DWB2|3, 172)

+ * 1265 – ''Aberelle'' appears in charters.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 1529 – ''Aprilwetter'' is recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1618 – First record of ''jemanden in den April schicken''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1697 – ''Aprilnarr'', after English ''April fool''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 18th century – The form ''April'' prevails.^(DWB2|3, 172)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|April]], the fourth month of the year; abbreviated ''Apr.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''April, April!'': a mocking call to someone who has been made an April [[m|en|fool]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Aprilscherz]]

+ * [[Aprilwetter]]

+ * [[Aprilnarr]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Ostern]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Jemanden in den April schicken'' is to make someone an April fool on 1 April, usually with a pointless errand.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden 7 2020|104) The proverb ''April, April, der weiß nicht, was er will'' refers to the changeable weather of the month.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}