besondere German · revision 35184

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=15th century}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''besondere''' (strong nominative masculine singular besonderer, comparative besonderer, superlative am besondersten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is late Middle High German [[m|gmh|besunder]], which took the place of the simple adjective [[m|gmh|sunder|t=separate, own, distinguished]].^(Duden 7 2020|143)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) The new adjective was shaped by the older adverb [[m|gmh|besunder|t=separately, especially]], a fusion [[af|gmh|bī|sunder|t1=by|t2=apart]] with an unstressed first part.^(Kluge 2011|114)^(Duden 7 2020|143)^(Pfeifer 1993) The adverb itself took an adverbial /-s/ in Early New High German and became [[besonders]].^(Kluge 2011|114)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The base is [[goh|suntar|t=apart, separately]], the same word as [[got|𐍃𐌿𐌽𐌳𐍂𐍉|tr=sundrō|t=apart, alone]], [[ang|sundor]] and [[non|sundr]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|791) Pfeifer and the Duden dictionary connect it with [[grc|ἄτερ|tr=áter|t=without]] and [[la|sine|t=without]], from [[ine-pro|*sn̥-tér|t=apart, by itself]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|791)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Paul gives “separated from others” as the first meaning, as in Luther's ''an einem besondern Ort''.^(Paul 2002) The Grimms quote early uses from the Shrovetide plays and Steinhöwel's ''Esopus'', and Luther's Bible has ''ein besonder gelübde'', a special vow.^(DWB|1, 1631)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “separate” the word passed to “of a particular kind” (''besondere Umstände'') and finally to “unusual, outstanding”, as in Goethe's ''Blut ist ein ganz besondrer Saft''.^(Paul 2002) Adelung distinguishes the sense “belonging to one thing alone” from “standing out from others of its kind, for good or ill”, and notes that Upper German still used plain ''sonder''.^(Adelung 1793|1, 915) The simple adjective ''sonder'' was current until the 18th century and then gave way to ''besonder'', surviving only in compounds such as ''Sonderdruck''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1060–1080 – The Middle High German adverb ''besunder'' appears in the Vienna ''Genesis''.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 15th century – The adjective ''besunder'' and the noun ''Besonderheit'' are recorded.^(Kluge 2011|114)^(Wiktionary DE)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 16th century – The adverb takes the form ''besonders''.^(Duden 7 2020|143)

+ * 18th century – The simple adjective ''sonder'' goes out of use.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|separate]], additional: ''ein besonderer Eingang für Lieferanten''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Not ordinary, [[m|en|unusual]]: ''Gab es besondere Vorfälle?''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Outstanding, [[m|en|exceptional]]: ''mit besonderer Sorgfalt''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Besonderheit]]

+ * [[insbesondere]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[besonders]]

+ * [[sonder]]

+ * [[sondern]]

+ * [[en|asunder]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The adjective is used only attributively; in predicative use the adverb [[besonders]] takes its place, often in understatement: ''Das Essen war nicht besonders.''^(Paul 2002)^(Duden 7 2020|143) ''Im Besonderen'' means “in particular”.^(Duden GWDS 1999) A shortened form is ''besondre''.^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}