Gesellschaft German · revision 35194

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 830, Tatian|origins=gem-pro *salaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɡəˈzɛlʃaft/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Gesellschaft''' ''f'' (genitive Gesellschaft, plural Gesellschaften)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|geselleschaft]], [[inh|goh|giselliscaft]], formed [[af|de|Geselle|-schaft]].^(Wiktionary)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|354) The base, [[goh|gisello|t=house-mate, companion]], is a West Germanic prefixed formation, [[gmw-pro|*ga-salja-]], on the word behind [[Saal]]: it meant the one who shares the hall, the living space, with another, then a companion in general.^(Kluge 2011|354)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) Kluge calls it a sociative formation, like [[Gefährte]].^(Kluge 2011|354)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The noun [[goh|sal]] continues [[gem-pro|*salaz]], originally the inner room of the one-room house, also in [[non|salr]], [[ang|sæl]] and [[got|𐍃𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=saljan|t=to find lodging, stay]]; outside Germanic Kluge compares [[la|solum|t=ground]], [[lt|salà|t=village]] and [[cu|село|tr=selo|t=field, village]], and calls its further origin unclear.^(Kluge 2011|780)

+

+ The same formation is [[gml|geselschop]], [[dum|gheselschap]] and [[nl|gezelschap]]; [[sv|sällskap]] and [[da|selskab]] were borrowed.^(DWB|5, 4049)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''giselliscaft'' is recorded in the Tatian (about 830), in Notker and in glosses, meaning fellowship, union, a circle of acquaintances, friendship;^(Köbler AHD)^(Pfeifer 1993) Duden adds friendly company, love, all the guests together, and a trading partnership.^(Duden 7 2007) In Middle High German poetry it often means the retinue of a prince, as in the ''Eneit'' and ''Parzival''.^(DWB|5, 4049)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle High German also used it for a merchants' association, a trading company, the source of the modern commercial sense.^(Duden GWDS 1999) From the 15th century the word was applied to the human community divided into groups, as in ''bürgerliche Gesellschaft'' “community of citizens”;^(Pfeifer 1993) ''die (gute) Gesellschaft'', the classes joined by rank, noble birth or education, dates from the 18th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) At times it was almost a synonym of ''Staat'', and in the 18th century it was influenced by French ''société'' (Rousseau); for 19th-century political economy society was the whole of mankind, split into classes and living in its relations of production.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ [[Gesellschafter]] dates from the 16th century^(Duden 7 2007) and [[gesellschaftlich]] from the 18th.^(Pfeifer 1993) Moravian Czech borrowed the word as ''kselšoft''.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 830 – ''giselliscaft'' in the Old High German Tatian.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * Middle High German – The sense “retinue of a prince” and the commercial sense “trading company”.^(DWB|5, 4049)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ * 15th century – The sense “human community”, as in ''bürgerliche Gesellschaft''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 16th century – ''Gesellschafter'' appears.^(Duden 7 2007)

+ * 18th century – ''die gute Gesellschaft''; influence of French ''société''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – ''gesellschaftlich'' appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|society]]: all the people living together under particular political, economic and social conditions: ''die moderne Gesellschaft''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|company]], companionship, being together: ''Sie genoss seine Gesellschaft.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A larger social gathering, a [[m|en|party]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # A circle of people gathered together: ''eine fröhliche Gesellschaft''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # High society, the upper class set apart by wealth, position and education.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # An [[m|en|association]] of people with a common aim or interests: ''eine Gesellschaft für Sprachforschung''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(business)'' A company formed by several persons or firms.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Gesellschafter]]

+ * [[gesellschaftlich]]

+ * [[Gesellschaftsspiel]]

+ * [[Aktiengesellschaft]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Geselle]]

+ * [[gesellig]]

+ * [[Saal]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Jemandem Gesellschaft leisten'' is to keep someone company, and ''sich in guter Gesellschaft befinden'' is to be in good company, sharing a mistake or an opinion with respected people.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}