Stelle German · revision 35062

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=back-formation|attested=13th century, Middle High German|origins=gem-pro *stalla-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈʃtɛlə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Stelle''' ''f'' (genitive Stelle, plural Stellen)^(Wiktionary)

+ Middle High German and early New High German also had weak singular forms.^(DWB|18, 2172) A neuter ''Stell'', ''Gestell'' “frame, place” lived on in regional use.^(DWB|18, 2172)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a back-formation of Early New High German from [[m|de|stellen|t=to put, place]], originally “the place where something stands”, and replaced [[gmh|stal|t=place, standing]] in this sense.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)^(Kluge 2011|881) The Grimms' dictionary takes it rather as a noun with a j-suffix formed from [[Stall]], like [[Bürste]] beside [[Borste]], though it allows a derivation from the verb as Wilmanns proposed.^(DWB|18, 2172) It is found earlier in compounds: [[goh|heristelli|t=site of an army camp]], recorded in 797, and [[gmh|himelstelle|t=seat in heaven]].^(DWB|18, 2172)^(Pfeifer 1993) The word is limited to German, Low German and Low Franconian, and [[da|stel]] and [[sv|ställ]] are borrowed from German.^(DWB|18, 2172)

+

+ The verb is [[goh|stellen]], from the 8th century, formed from [[gem-pro|*stalla-|t=standing place]], the noun that became Stall, so first “to put in its place”.^(Kluge 2011|881)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(EWA|8, 1038) Kluge and the EWA also allow a causative of a root [[m|ine-pro|*stel-]], which is otherwise unattested in Germanic.^(Kluge 2011|881)^(EWA|8, 1038) Kroonen derives the noun from [[ine-pro|*steh₂-|t=to stand]], with an instrumental suffix, matching [[la|stabulum|t=stable]], while Duden sees in that root an extension of the root for “stand”, with [[grc|στέλλω|tr=stéllō|t=to set up, send]] and Old Latin [[m|la|stlocus]], the earlier form of [[m|la|locus|t=place]].^(Kroonen 2013)^(Duden 7 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Middle High German ''stelle'' appears only now and then, in poets of the 13th and 14th centuries.^(DWB|18, 2172) The oldest examples are concrete, “frame, stand”, and the abstract “place” is recorded in High German only from the 15th century.^(DWB|18, 2172) The Early New High German dictionary lists among the early senses a frame or wagon body, a church pew and a shelf, a terraced vineyard, a place, a position or office, and a pen for cattle.^(FWB)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 16th century the word spread widely in the written language, taking over many uses of [[Stall]] and [[Statt]].^(DWB|18, 2172)^(Pfeifer 1993) Its senses today run from a place or spot, a passage in a text, and a rank in an order, to a job and an office.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The compound [[Stellvertreter]] “deputy” dates from the 17th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The word was borrowed into Yiddish as שטעלע (shtele) and into Serbo-Croatian as ''štela''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 797 – Old High German ''heristelli'' “camp site”.^(DWB|18, 2172)

+ * 13th–14th century – Middle High German ''stelle'' in a few poets.^(DWB|18, 2172)

+ * 15th century – First use as abstract “place” in High German.^(DWB|18, 2172)

+ * 16th century – Broader use in the written language.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|18, 2172)

+ * 17th century – ''Stellvertreter'' “deputy”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|place]], [[m|en|spot]], point where someone or something is or something happens: ''an dieser Stelle stand früher eine Mühle''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A spot on a surface: ''eine kahle Stelle im Rasen''.^(Wiktionary)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # A [[m|en|passage]] in a text or piece of music: ''eine Stelle aus dem Roman vorlesen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A point in a speech or argument: ''an dieser Stelle sei erwähnt, dass …''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A place in a ranking or order: ''an erster Stelle stehen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' A [[m|en|digit]] position, a decimal place: ''die zweite Stelle nach dem Komma''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|job]], post: ''sie sucht eine neue Stelle''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Short for [[Dienststelle]]: an office, authority: ''sich an die zuständige Stelle wenden''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[anstelle]]

+ * [[Stellvertreter]]

+ * [[Dienststelle]]

+ * [[Stellenangebot]]

+ * [[Stellenausschreibung]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Gestell]]

+ * [[Stellung]]

+ * [[stellen]]

+ * [[Stall]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Fixed phrases include ''auf der Stelle'' “at once”, ''auf der Stelle treten'' “to make no progress”, ''zur Stelle sein'' “to be on hand”, ''an Ort und Stelle'' “on the spot” and ''an jemandes Stelle'' “in someone's place”, from which [[anstelle]] is formed.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}