Kraft German · revision 35145

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /kʁaft/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Kraft''' ''f'' (genitive Kraft, plural Kräfte)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|kraft]], [[inh|goh|kraft]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*kraftu]], [[inh|gem-pro|*kraftuz|t=strength, power]].^(Wiktionary)^(Kluge 2011|535)^(Kroonen 2013) Kluge reconstructs a feminine i-stem [[gem-pro|*krafti-]] with traces of a parallel masculine u-stem.^(Kluge 2011|535) The same word is [[osx|kraft]], [[non|kraptr]], [[ang|cræft]], [[ofs|kreft]] and [[nl|kracht]]; [[en|craft]] narrowed to “skill, cunning”.^(Kluge 2011|535)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|473)

+

+ Its origin is unclear.^(Kluge 2011|535)^(Duden 7 2020|473) Pfeifer and Duden suggest an extension [[ine-pro|*grep-]] of the root [[m|ine-pro|*ger-|t=to turn, wind]] (as in [[Krampf]]), so that the word first meant the tensing of the muscles.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|473)^(Duden GWDS 1999) Kluge prefers a link with [[Krieg]] and its possible relatives such as [[sga|bríg|t=strength]].^(Kluge 2011|535)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch) Orel and Wiktionary derive it from a verb [[gem-pro|*krafjaną|t=to demand]].^(Orel 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''kraft'' appears in glosses from about 765 and in Isidor, Otfrid, Notker and other texts, meaning strength of body and mind, ability, might, power, virtue and miracle.^(Köbler AHD)^(EWA|5, 738)^(Schützeichel 2012|182) Already in Old High German it could mean the validity of a law.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle High German ''kraft'' also meant an army and a large quantity.^(Pfeifer 1993) The legal sense “validity” survives in the phrases ''in Kraft treten'' and ''außer Kraft setzen'' and in the adjective [[rechtskräftig]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) From phrases such as ''in Kraft'' and ''durch Kraft'' the chancery language made a preposition ''kraft'' “by virtue of” in the 16th century.^(Kluge 2011|535)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|473)

+

+ The word became a term of physics: Kant wrote on ''lebendige Kräfte'' in 1747.^(Paul 2002) From the end of the 18th century it was used of people as bearers of strength: ''Streitkräfte'', then ''Lehrkräfte'' and ''Arbeitskraft'' in the 19th century, and ''eine bewährte Kraft'' “a capable employee” in the 20th.^(Pfeifer 1993) The 20th century also coined ''Kraftfahrzeug'' and ''Kraftrad'' for motor vehicles.^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 16th century – the preposition ''kraft'' “by virtue of” comes into use.^(Kluge 2011|535)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1747 – Kant writes about ''lebendige Kräfte'' in physics.^(Paul 2002)

+ * Late 18th century – ''Streitkräfte'' “armed forces” is formed.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 19th century – ''Lehrkräfte'' and ''Arbeitskraft'' come into use.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 20th century – ''Kraft'' is used of a single employee;^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch) ''Kraftfahrzeug'' is coined.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|strength|alt=Strength]], the power to act, of body or mind: ''Ihm fehlte die Kraft, weiterzugehen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A power that something has to produce an effect: ''die Kraft des Windes'', ''die heilende Kraft der Kräuter''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # A [[m|en|worker]], employee: ''Wir suchen eine erfahrene Kraft für das Labor.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural)'' Groups that exert influence: ''konservative Kräfte im Parlament''; also armed [[m|en|forces]], as in ''Streitkräfte''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(physics)'' [[m|en|force]], what changes a body's motion or shape.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Validity: ''in Kraft treten'' “to come into force” and ''außer Kraft setzen'' “to repeal”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[kraft]]

+ * [[kräftig]]

+ * [[kräftigen]]

+ * [[entkräften]]

+ * [[verkraften]]

+ * [[rechtskräftig]]

+ * [[Streitkräfte]]

+ * [[Arbeitskraft]]

+ * [[Kraftwerk]]

+ * [[Kraftfahrzeug]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Krieg]]

+ * [[Krampf]]

+ * [[en|craft]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The preposition ''kraft'' takes the genitive and belongs to official language: ''kraft seines Amtes'' “by virtue of his office”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}