allein German · revision 35077

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1160, Der von Kürenberg}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /(ʔ)aˈlaɪn/, /(ʔ)əˈlɔɪ̯/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''allein''' (indeclinable, predicative only)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|alein]], a fusion of [[m|gmh|al|t=all, wholly]], used as an intensifier, with [[m|gmh|eine|t=alone, only]], the numeral [[ein]], which by itself already meant “alone”.^(Kluge 2011|32)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB2|2, 323) In Old High German the weak form [[m|goh|eino]] of the numeral meant “alone, apart, the only one”, and the uninflected word as an adverb meant “only”.^(EWA|2, 989)^(AWB)

+

+ The same formation is [[gml|allēne]], [[dum|allene]], [[ofs|allen]], [[nl|alleen]] and [[enm|al one]], today's [[en|alone]].^(DWB2|2, 323)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|32)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adjective “alone” is recorded from the 12th century: about 1160 Der von Kürenberg has a woman say ''swenne ich stân aleine in mînem hemede'' “when I stand alone in my shift” and think of the noble knight.^(DWB2|2, 323) In Wolfram's ''Parzival'' (about 1210) Gawan ''reit al ein'' “rode alone” towards danger.^(DWB2|2, 323)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adverbial sense “only” developed almost at the same time as “alone”, and out of it grew the use as a conjunction.^(DWB2|2, 323) Middle High German also used ''alein'' to introduce a clause of concession, “although”, but this use went out of use early.^(Lexer 1872|1, 36)^(DWB2|2, 323) The coordinating conjunction “but, however” is found from Early New High German and is old-fashioned in the 20th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB2|2, 323) Early New High German also had ''nicht allein …, sondern auch'' “not only …, but also”.^(FWB)

+

+ The form ''alleine'' was originally used in all senses, and later mainly in colloquial speech for “alone”.^(DWB2|2, 323) It is strengthened in ''ganz allein'' and [[mutterseelenallein]].^(DWB|1, 216) The adjective [[alleinig]] is dated to the 14th century by Pfeifer and to the 17th by the Duden.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) [[Alleinherrschaft]] dates from the 17th century, and [[Alleinherrscher]] from the 18th, as a translation of [[Monarch]].^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1160 – Der von Kürenberg uses ''aleine'' “alone”.^(DWB2|2, 323)

+ * c. 1210 – Wolfram's ''Parzival'' has ''al ein'' “alone”.^(DWB2|2, 323)

+ * 1343 – Matthias von Beheim's gospel book says that Jesus went up a mountain ''alleine'' to pray.^(DWB2|2, 323)

+ * 14th century – The adjective ''alleinig'' is first recorded, according to Pfeifer.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 16th century – ''Alleinherrschung'' appears, followed in the 17th century by ''Alleinherrschaft''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – ''Alleinherrscher'' is formed as a translation of ''Monarch''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Only predicative: without others, on one's own: ''er reist gern allein''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|lonely]]: ''sich allein fühlen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Without help: ''das Kind kann schon allein essen'', and colloquially ''von allein(e)'' “by itself, of one's own accord”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(formal)'' [[m|en|only]], exclusively: ''sie allein trägt die Verantwortung''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Even just, by itself, not counting anything else: ''allein die Miete kostet die Hälfte des Gehalts''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # ''(formal)'' [[m|en|but]], however: ''ich habe es versucht, allein es war vergebens''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[alleinig]]

+ * [[Alleingang]]

+ * [[Alleinherrscher]]

+ * [[alleinstehend]]

+ * [[alleinerziehend]]

+ * [[mutterseelenallein]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[all]]

+ * [[ein]]

+ * [[einzig]]

+ * [[en|alone]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In colloquial German the form ''alleine'' is common.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(DWB2|2, 323) ''Allein stehend'' means “unmarried, without family”, and ''allein erziehend'' “bringing up children without a partner”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}