wachsen German · revision 35120

+ {{homograph|1|to grow}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=8th century, Old High German glosses|origins=ine-pro *h₂weks-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈvaksn̩/, /ˈvaksən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''wachsen''' (class 6 strong, third-person singular present wächst, past tense wuchs, past participle gewachsen, past subjunctive wüchse, auxiliary sein)^(Wiktionary)

+ The assimilated form ''wassen'' prevails in Low German and is widespread in Central Franconian, Rhine Franconian and parts of Upper German; it is found sporadically in Old High German and is not rare in Middle High German.^(DWB|27, 79)^(Lexer 1872|3, 643)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb meaning “to grow” is [[inh|gmh|wahsen]], [[inh|goh|wahsan]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*wahsan]], [[inh|gem-pro|*wahsijaną|t=to grow]].^(Kluge 2011|965)^(Wiktionary) The same verb is [[osx|wahsan]], [[non|vaxa]], [[ang|weaxan]] (now [[en|wax]] “to grow”) and [[ofs|waxa]].^(Kluge 2011|965)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge reconstructs a strong verb with a plain present and considers that [[got|𐍅𐌰𐌷𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=wahsjan]], with a j-present, may show the older stem.^(Kluge 2011|965)

+

+ It continues [[ine-pro|*h₂weks-|t=to grow]],^(Wiktionary) found on the same ablaut grade in [[grc|ἀέξω|tr=aéxō|t=I increase, make grow]] and [[sa|वक्षयति|tr=vakṣáyati|t=makes grow]],^(Kluge 2011|965)^(Duden 7 2020|915) and in the zero grade in [[m|grc|αὐξάνω|tr=auxánō|t=I increase]], [[la|auxilium|t=help]], [[lt|aukštas|alt=áukštas|t=high]] and [[txb|auk-|t=to increase]].^(Kluge 2011|965) It is an extension of the root of [[m|la|augeō|t=to increase]] and [[got|𐌰𐌿𐌺𐌰𐌽|tr=aukan|t=to increase]], to which [[auch]] and [[Wucher]] also belong.^(Duden 7 2020|915)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)^(DWB|27, 79)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''wahsan'' is recorded from about 765 in glosses, then in the Tatian, Otfrid, Notker and Williram.^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|368) It meant “to grow, grow up, increase, become powerful, thrive”, and also “to be of use” and “to be descended from”.^(Schützeichel 2012|368)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb was used first and above all of plants, then of animals and people, and in the medieval view also of minerals and ores, hence Schiller's ''wo das Eisen wächst in der Berge Schacht'' and Arndt's ''Der Gott, der Eisen wachsen ließ''.^(Paul 2002) From “to become larger” it passed to “to increase in size, number or strength”, of the moon, of water, and of power, wealth or a town.^(Paul 2002) Figurative phrases are ''jemandem über den Kopf wachsen'' “to become too much for someone”, ''jemandem ans Herz gewachsen sein'' “to be dear to someone” and ''einer Sache gewachsen sein'' “to be equal to something”.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ [[Wachstum]] is found occasionally in the 14th century and became usual in the middle of the 17th; since the 1970s ''Wachstum der Wirtschaft'' has also been used critically.^(Paul 2002) [[Zuwachs]] dates from the end of the 16th century and [[Nachwuchs]] from the first half of the 19th.^(Duden 7 2020|915)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 765 – Old High German ''wahsan'' in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * Middle High German – ''wassen'' is common in Central Franconian and Thuringian.^(DWB|27, 79)

+ * 14th century – First records of ''Wachstum''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * Late 16th century – ''Zuwachs'' is recorded.^(Duden 7 2020|915)

+ * Mid-17th century – ''Wachstum'' becomes usual.^(Paul 2002)

+ * First half of the 19th century – ''Nachwuchs'' is recorded.^(Duden 7 2020|915)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|grow]] as a living thing, become bigger or longer: ''Das Kind ist im Sommer viel gewachsen.'' ''Er lässt sich die Haare wachsen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To grow somewhere, [[m|en|thrive]]: ''Am Waldrand wachsen Himbeeren.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To grow in a certain way: ''Die Tanne ist schief gewachsen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To [[m|en|increase]] in size, number or amount: ''Die Bevölkerung der Stadt wächst schnell.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''einer Sache gewachsen sein'': to be equal to, able to cope with something.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Wachstum]]

+ * [[Gewächs]]

+ * [[Wuchs]]

+ * [[erwachsen]]

+ * [[Zuwachs]]

+ * [[Nachwuchs]]

+ * [[aufwachsen]]

+ * [[heranwachsen]]

+ * [[anwachsen]]

+ * [[verwachsen]]

+ * [[auswachsen]]

+ * [[entwachsen]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|to wax}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=15th century|origins=gem-pro *wahsą}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''wachsen''' (third-person singular present wachst, past tense wachste, past participle gewachst, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb meaning “to wax” is formed from [[Wachs|t=wax]].^(Duden 7 2020|915)^(Wiktionary DE)^(Pfeifer 1993) Old High German had [[m|goh|wahsen|t=to wax]] (10th century), which became [[wächsen]] in the 15th century;^(Pfeifer 1993) Duden adds that this verb, now only regional, was displaced from the 18th century by its variant [[wichsen]], and dates the form without umlaut to the 15th century,^(Duden 7 2020|915) while Pfeifer regards it as recent, made after the noun.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The noun is [[goh|wahs]] (9th century), from [[gem-pro|*wahsą|t=wax]], the same word as [[osx|wahs]], [[non|vax]] and [[ang|weax]] (now [[en|wax]]).^(Kluge 2011|965)^(Pfeifer 1993) Outside Germanic [[lt|vaškas|alt=vãškas]] and [[cu|воскъ|tr=voskŭ]] point to [[ine-pro|*wokso-|t=wax]].^(Kluge 2011|965)^(Pfeifer 1993) Pfeifer and Duden derive it from the root [[ine-pro|*weg-|t=to weave]], the wax being “the bees' web”,^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|915) while Kluge finds a link with a word for “to flow, melt” semantically more likely.^(Kluge 2011|965)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''wahsen'' is recorded in the 10th century, and the modern verb in the 15th century, meaning “to smear with wax, smooth and polish”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|915)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The umlauted ''wächsen'' gave way from the 18th century to its variant ''wichsen'', and the sense “to smooth with wax” is now attached only to ''wachsen''.^(Duden 7 2020|915) Pfeifer explains the modern form without umlaut by the influence of the noun.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 10th century – Old High German ''wahsen'' “to wax”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 15th century – ''wächsen'' and ''wachsen''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|915)

+ * 18th century – ''wichsen'' displaces ''wächsen''.^(Duden 7 2020|915)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|wax]], to treat with wax: ''die Skier vor dem Rennen wachsen''.^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Wachs]]

+ * [[auch]]

+ * [[Wucher]]

+ * [[wichsen]]

+ * [[en|wax]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The verbs are conjugated differently: ''wachsen'' “to grow” is strong (''wächst'', ''wuchs'', ''ist gewachsen''), ''wachsen'' “to wax” weak (''wachst'', ''wachste'', ''hat gewachst'').^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}