Meinung German · revision 35248

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1000, Notker|origins=gem-pro *mainijaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmaɪ̯nʊŋ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Meinung''' ''f'' (genitive Meinung, plural Meinungen)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|meinunge]], [[inh|goh|meinunga]], formed with the suffix [[m|goh|-unga]] from the verb [[m|goh|meinen]], modern [[meinen]].^(Kluge 2011|613)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) The same formation is found in [[gml|mêininge]], [[dum|meninge]] and [[ofs|meninge]], and [[nl|mening]] and [[en|meaning]] correspond to it.^(AWB|6, 374)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The verb is [[gem-pro|*mainijaną|t=to mean, think]], the same as [[osx|mēnian]], [[ang|mǣnan]] (now [[en|mean]]) and [[ofs|mēna]];^(Kluge 2011|613)^(Kroonen 2013) Kluge treats it as West Germanic.^(Kluge 2011|613)^(Kroonen 2013) Outside Germanic it matches [[cu|мѣнити|tr=měniti|t=to think, mention]] and [[sga|mían|t=wish, desire]].^(Kluge 2011|613)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kroonen 2013) Kroonen sees in it a causative [[ine-pro|*moyn-éye-]].^(Kroonen 2013) Kluge derives it from the word for “exchange” behind [[gemein]] and [[Meineid]], so that the verb first meant “to give one's opinion in turn”.^(Kluge 2011|613) Duden calls the further connections unclear.^(Duden 7 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''meinunga'' is found about 1000 in Notker's Boethius, meaning “cause, reason”: ''houbet unde meinunga'' renders Latin “sum and cause”.^(AWB|6, 374)^(Schützeichel 2012|218) A stylus gloss has it for “opinion, estimate”.^(AWB|6, 374)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle High German ''meinunge'' covered “sense, meaning, thought, attitude, intention” and also “affection, love”, as the verb ''meinen'' could mean “to love”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Lexer 1872|1, 2080) Luther often uses it for the sense of words: ''wenig wort und viel meinung ist christlich'', “few words and much meaning is Christian”.^(DWB|12, 1938) Early New High German also used it for “intention, will”, even “last will”.^(FWB)

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+ By Adelung's time the word was limited mainly to “opinion, judgement on probable grounds”.^(Adelung 1793|3, 161) ''Die öffentliche Meinung'' “public opinion” is a loan translation of French ''opinion publique''.^(Duden GWDS 1999) Slovene [[m|sl|manenga]] was borrowed from it.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old High German ''meinunga'' in Notker.^(AWB|6, 374)

+ * Middle High German – ''meinunge'' “intention, affection”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 16th century – Luther uses it for the sense of words.^(DWB|12, 1938)

+ * 1793 – Adelung limits it to “opinion”.^(Adelung 1793|3, 161)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|opinion]], personal view: ''Meiner Meinung nach ist das zu teuer.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An estimate or judgement of someone: ''eine hohe Meinung von jemandem haben''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # The prevailing view of the public: ''die öffentliche Meinung''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Meinungsfreiheit]]

+ * [[Meinungsumfrage]]

+ * [[Meinungsverschiedenheit]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[meinen]]

+ * [[vermeinen]]

+ * [[vermeintlich]]

+ * [[en|meaning]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Jemandem die Meinung sagen'' (slangy ''geigen'') means “to give someone a piece of one's mind”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}