Form German · revision 35234

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1190, Herbort von Fritzlar|origins=la fōrma}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fɔʁm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Form''' ''f'' (genitive Form, plural Formen)^(Wiktionary)

+ Middle High German had ''form'' and ''forme''.^(Köbler MHD)^(Lexer 1872|3, 474) The noun was occasionally masculine until the beginning of the 19th century, and Upper German also had a masculine ''furm''.^(DWB2|9, 759)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|forme]], [[bor|la|fōrma|t=shape, figure, appearance]], borrowed in the 13th century.^(Kluge 2011|310)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB) The revised Grimm dictionary takes the Upper German masculine form from [[fro|fourme]],^(DWB2|9, 759) and derives the sense “fitness” from [[en|form]].^(DWB2|9, 759)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The same word is [[nl|vorm]] and [[fr|forme]].^(Kluge 2011|310) Duden mentions that [[m|la|fōrma]] may itself be borrowed from [[grc|μορφή|tr=morphḗ|t=shape]], perhaps through Etruscan.^(Duden 7 2020|281)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The earliest record, from Herbort von Fritzlar (about 1190), is isolated and probably means “letter, linguistic form”.^(DWB2|9, 759) The word became established about the middle of the 13th century, at first referring only to the human figure;^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB) the Grimms note that the Middle High German poets of the classical period avoided it, and that Konrad von Würzburg was the first to use it, as in ''die ritterlîchen forme sîn'' “his knightly figure”.^(DWB|3, 1897)^(Lexer 1872|3, 474) A text of 1250 calls a rule a ''forme'' in which one may see oneself as in a mirror.^(DFWB)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Paul notes that until the 17th century it was still used of people, and then more generally of the shape of anything.^(Paul 2002) Duden traces the development from “outward shape, outline” to “pattern, model” and “manner, character, state of mind”.^(Duden 7 2020|281) From the 15th century it was applied to linguistic structures.^(Paul 2002) In the 18th century it spread to social institutions (''Staatsform'', ''Regierungsform'') and to manners, as in Knigge;^(Paul 2002) the mould for casting is recorded by Henisch.^(Paul 2002) Kluge notes that its many senses come partly from Latin, partly from English and partly from developments within German.^(Kluge 2011|310)

+

+ Derivatives are [[formen]] (Middle High German), [[förmlich]], from Middle High German ''formelich'' “proper, seemly”, and [[formlos]];^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|281) the second element ''-förmig'' is found from the 14th century, as in ''gotformec'' “shaped like God”.^(Pfeifer 1993) [[Umgangsformen]] “manners” dates from the 19th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) English borrowed ''form'' in its Kantian sense in 1803,^(LWP) and ''Ich-Form'' “first-person narrative” was borrowed as [[cs|ich-forma]].^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1190 – Herbort von Fritzlar uses ''formen'' in an isolated sense.^(DWB2|9, 759)

+ * c. 1250 – The word is borrowed into general use.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB)

+ * 1349–1350 – Konrad von Megenberg writes that the devil can take the ''form'' of any animal.^(DWB2|9, 759)^(DFWB)

+ * 14th century – Adjectives in ''-förmig'' appear.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 15th century – The word is applied to linguistic structures.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 18th century – ''Staatsform'' and the sense “manners” appear.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1803 – English borrows ''form'' in its Kantian sense.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Outward [[m|en|shape]], the outline in which something appears: a vase in the form of a pear;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''(feste) Formen annehmen'' is to take shape, and ''in Form von'' means “in the form of”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The way a content is presented; [[m|en|literary]] or artistic form: a poem in the form of a sonnet.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # The manner in which something exists; a variety;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE) ''(grammar)'' an inflected form: the forms of a noun.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Fixed social conventions, [[m|en|etiquette]]: ''die Form wahren'' is to keep up appearances, and ''in aller Form'' means “formally, explicitly”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(especially sports)'' [[m|en|fitness]], condition: ''in Form sein'' is to be on form.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # A [[m|en|mould]], a baking tin or casting mould.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[formen]]

+ * [[Formung]]

+ * [[förmlich]]

+ * [[formlos]]

+ * [[Umgangsformen]]

+ * [[Staatsform]]

+ * [[Backform]]

+ * [[gleichförmig]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[formal]]

+ * [[formell]]

+ * [[Formel]]

+ * [[formieren]]

+ * [[Uniform]]

+ * [[konform]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Aus der Form gehen'' (colloquial, jocular) is to put on a lot of weight.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}