Folge German · revision 35041

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=late 12th century, Middle High German|origins=gmw-pro *folgēn}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈfɔlɡə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Folge''' ''f'' (genitive Folge, plural Folgen)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|volge]], a noun formed from the verb [[gmh|volgen]], [[goh|folgēn]], [[gmw-pro|*folgēn]] (see [[folgen]]).^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary)^(Kluge 2011|308)^(Duden 7 2007) In Old High German it is found only in the compound [[m|goh|selbfolga|t=sect, party]] (11th century); the EWA and Pfeifer take it as a noun formed from the verb rather than its base.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(EWA|3, 448)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The same noun is [[gml|volge]], [[dum|volge]] and [[ofs|folge]].^(DWB2|9, 719)

+

+ The verb continues [[gem-pro|*fulgēn]], also in [[osx|folgon]], [[non|fylgja]] and [[ang|folgian]], whence [[en|follow]].^(Kluge 2011|308)^(Köbler AHD)^(Pfeifer 1993) The East Germanic counterpart is lacking, and [[got|𐌻𐌰𐌹𐍃𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=laistjan]] (see [[leisten]]) takes its place.^(Kluge 2011|308)^(Köbler AHD)^(Pfeifer 1993) Its origin is unexplained.^(Kluge 2011|308)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) A connection with a Welsh word for “track” would suggest a root [[ine-pro|*polgʰ-]], but that word is isolated and ambiguous in form;^(Kluge 2011|308)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge finds a link with the family of [[befehlen]] most satisfying from the Germanic side, though only as a root etymology with an imperfect match in meaning.^(Kluge 2011|308)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Middle High German ''volge'' appears in the ''Marienleben'' of Wernher (1172–1190), where those who broke the emperor's command and refused to follow them (''die uolge uersprachen'') suffered for it.^(Köbler MHD)^(DWB2|9, 719) It meant following and pursuit, a retinue, the duty to follow one's lord to war, feudal succession, obedience, and agreement, especially the legal assent to a judgement.^(Lexer 1872|3, 440)^(Köbler MHD)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of the many Middle High German senses only “sequence”, “result” and “time to come” survive in modern German, beside “obedience” in the phrase ''Folge leisten'', which first referred to complying with a summons to court.^(Duden 7 2007)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The Grimms record the legal ''Folge'' “succession” in compounds like [[Erbfolge]] and [[Nachfolge]], and the hunter's right of ''Folge'' to pursue game into another's ground.^(DWB|3, 1871)

+

+ Applied to logical inference, ''Folge'' came to mean a consequence, with [[folglich]], [[folgern]] and ''folgerecht'' (18th century, after French ''conséquent'').^(Kluge 2011|308)^(Pfeifer 1993) In modern use it also means an instalment or episode of a series, and in mathematics a sequence.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) The word was borrowed into Polish as ''folga'' “leniency, indulgence” (1460).^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 11th century – Old High German ''selbfolga'' “sect”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ * 1172–1190 – Middle High German ''volge'' in Wernher's ''Marienleben''.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 1338 – ''volge'' for the obligation to provide armed men.^(Lexer 1872|3, 440)

+ * 1460 – Polish ''folga'' is recorded as a loan from German.^(LWP)

+ * 17th century – ''folglich'' is used in the sense “therefore”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007)

+ * 18th century – ''folgenschwer'' “momentous” is formed, probably after French.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|consequence]], result or effect of an action or event.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|sequence]] or series of things following one another: ''in rascher Folge''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An instalment, [[m|en|episode]] or issue of a series or periodical.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' A sequence, a function on the natural numbers.^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[folgerichtig]]

+ * [[Abfolge]]

+ * [[Erbfolge]]

+ * [[Fruchtfolge]]

+ * [[Nachfolge]]

+ * [[infolge]]

+ * [[zufolge]]

+ * [[Reihenfolge]]

+ * [[folglich]]

+ * [[folgsam]]

+ * [[folgenschwer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[folgen]]

+ * [[folgern]]

+ * [[Gefolge]]

+ * [[Erfolg]]

+ * [[en|follow]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Einer Sache Folge leisten'' (official style) is to comply with a request or an invitation;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden 7 2007) ''in der Folge'' means “subsequently”, and ''in Folge'' “in a row”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden 7 2007) The prepositions [[infolge]] and [[zufolge]] are formed from the noun.^(Duden 7 2007)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}