vorstellen German · revision 35288

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=16th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * [ˈfoːɐ̯ʃtɛln̩], [ˈfoːɐ̯ʃtɛlən]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vorstellen''' (third-person singular present stellt vor, past tense stellte vor, past participle vorgestellt, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|de|vor-|stellen]], a verb of New High German: the Grimms' dictionary finds it, like the older [[fürstellen]], only from that period.^(DWB|26, 1675)^(Paul 2002)^(Wiktionary) [[nl|voorstellen]] is formed the same way, and [[da|forestille]] was borrowed from Low German.^(Wiktionary)^(DWB|26, 1675)

+

+ The base verb continues [[gmh|stellen]] (also [[m|gmh|stallen]]), [[goh|stellen|t=to set up, place]], [[gem-pro|*stalljaną]], the same verb as [[osx|stellian]] and [[ang|stellan]].^(Kluge 2011|881)^(EWA|8, 1038)^(Köbler AHD) It is probably derived from the noun [[Stall]] in its old sense “standing place”, [[gem-pro|*stallaz]], which Kroonen derives from [[ine-pro|*steh₂-|t=to stand]];^(Kluge 2011|881)^(EWA|8, 1038)^(Kroonen 2013) Kluge and the EWA also allow a causative of a root [[ine-pro|*stel-]], otherwise unattested in Germanic.^(Kluge 2011|881)^(EWA|8, 1038)^(Kroonen 2013)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Paul dates the verb to the 16th century, first in the concrete sense “to put in front of something”.^(Paul 2002) In Luther it means “to lay before someone for choice” (''er hat dir Feuer und Wasser vorgestellet; greife, zu welchem du willst'', “he has set fire and water before you; reach for whichever you will”), “to set before someone to follow”, and “to bring before people, present”.^(Paul 2002)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the beginning of the 17th century ''vorstellen'' was used for introducing one person to another.^(Paul 2002) In older military language it also meant “to promote”, as in Grimmelshausen's ''Simplicissimus''.^(DWB|26, 1675) It was used of actors presenting a role, and of a picture showing something (''was stellt das Gemälde vor?'', “what does the painting show?”); Goethe wrote in 1800 that a part should be ''vorgestellt'' by a good singer.^(Paul 2002) It also meant “to put before someone in words”, usually to persuade or warn.^(Paul 2002) Many of these uses have since passed to [[darstellen]] or [[vorlegen]], and the verb is used more narrowly today than before.^(DWB|26, 1675)^(Paul 2002)

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+ From the 18th century ''sich etwas vorstellen'', “to picture something to oneself, imagine”, became increasingly common;^(Paul 2002) the peace movement of the 1980s used the slogan ''Stell dir vor, es ist Krieg und keiner geht hin'' (“imagine there's a war and nobody goes”).^(Paul 2002) The noun [[Vorstellung]] (17th century) follows all the senses: a presentation at court, a performance in the theatre, a remonstrance, an idea.^(Paul 2002) The literal “to put forward” survives in putting a clock forward.^(DWB|26, 1675)^(Duden GWDS 1999) Upper Silesian Polish borrowed the verb as ''forsztelować'' “to imagine” (1760).^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 16th century – First records of ''vorstellen''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * Early 17th century – Used for introducing people to each other.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 17th century – The noun ''Vorstellung'' appears.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1760 – Polish dialect ''forsztelować'' “to imagine” is recorded.^(LWP)

+ * 18th century – ''Sich etwas vorstellen'' “to imagine” becomes common.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1800 – Goethe uses it of a singer performing a role.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move forward: ''Stell den Stuhl ein bisschen weiter vor.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To put in front of something: ''einen Wandschirm vorstellen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To put (a [[m|en|clock]]) forward: ''Vergiss nicht, am Sonntag die Uhren vorzustellen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|introduce]] someone to others: ''Ich möchte euch meine neue Kollegin vorstellen.''; also to present something new to the public.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To introduce oneself; also to go for a job interview: ''Morgen stellt er sich bei einer Bank vor.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To take or go to a doctor for examination.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To [[m|en|represent]], depict: ''Was soll diese Skulptur eigentlich vorstellen?'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''etwas vorstellen'', to be an impressive person.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive, with dative)'' To [[m|en|imagine]]: ''Ich kann mir gut vorstellen, wie müde sie ist.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Vorstellung]]

+ * [[vorstellig]]

+ * [[Vorstellungsvermögen]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stellen]]

+ * [[darstellen]]

+ * [[nl|voorstellen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}