fühlen German · revision 35342

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=about 790, Old High German glosses|origins=gmw-pro *fōlijan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈfyːlən/, [ˈfyː.lən], [ˈfyː.l̩n]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fühlen''' (third-person singular present fühlt, past tense fühlte, past participle gefühlt, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|vüelen]], [[inh|goh|fuolen|t=to touch, feel]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*fōlijan|t=to feel]].^(Kluge 2011|322)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) The same verb is [[osx|gifōlian]], [[gml|vȫlen]], [[dum|voelen]], [[ofs|fēla]] and [[ang|fēlan]], continued in [[nl|voelen]] and [[en|feel]].^(Kluge 2011|322)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(EWA|3, 634) It has no counterpart in Gothic or Norse, and [[da|føle]] is a loan from Middle Low German.^(DWB|4, 405)^(EWA|3, 634) Kluge connects it, with ablaut, to [[non|falma|t=to grope, feel one's way]].^(Kluge 2011|322)

+

+ Its further origin is uncertain.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB2|9, 1198) Kluge and Duden compare [[la|palpor|t=to stroke, flatter]] and, with irregular sound correspondences, [[grc|ψηλαφάω|tr=psēlapháō|t=I touch, stroke]], but Kluge says that all these connections still need clarifying.^(Kluge 2011|322)^(Duden 7 2020|292) Pfeifer considers instead [[la|pollex|t=thumb]] and [[ru|палец|tr=pálec|t=finger]], from a root [[ine-pro|*pō̌l-|t=swollen, thick]], so that the verb would first have meant “to touch with the thumb or finger”;^(Pfeifer 1993) he mentions the alternative link with [[m|la|palma|t=palm of the hand]], [[grc|παλάμη|tr=palámē|t=flat of the hand]] and [[goh|folma|t=flat of the hand]], but finds it open to serious objections of sound and sense.^(Pfeifer 1993) The Grimms favoured that link, taking the verb as the causative of a lost strong verb.^(DWB|4, 405)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''fuolen'' is first recorded about 790–800, in glosses and then in Otfrid, meaning to touch, feel with the hand, stroke and perceive; a gloss renders Latin ''palpari'', of the darkness in Egypt “that may be felt” (Exodus 10:21).^(EWA|3, 634)^(Köbler AHD)^(AWB|3, 1341) The Grimms took “to touch, feel with the fingers” to be the oldest sense.^(DWB|4, 405)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle High German the verb is not common and is mostly limited to Central German, in the form ''vûlen''.^(DWB|4, 405) It took in inner experience, “to perceive, sense”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler MHD) It was rare before the 16th century and spread with Luther.^(DWB2|9, 1198) The Upper German dialects did not continue it: they used [[empfinden]], [[spüren]] or [[merken]] instead, and the Augsburg lexicographer Henisch brought the written verb back into Upper German in 1616.^(EWA|3, 634) Bavarian and Austrian speech still prefers ''empfinden'' and Swabian and Alemannic ''spüren'', while the medical phrase ''den Puls fühlen'' was adopted in the south as a whole.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(EWA|3, 634)

+

+ From the 18th century the verb was applied to the emotions as well.^(Duden 7 2020|292)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)^(Paul 2002) The reflexive use ''sich glücklich fühlen'' increased markedly in the second half of the 18th century, when ''fühlend'' was also common for “sensitive”.^(DWB2|9, 1198)^(Paul 2002) ''Wer nicht hören will, muss fühlen'', recorded by Adelung, means that whoever will not listen to warnings must learn by pain.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * About 790 – Old High German ''fuolen'' appears in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)^(EWA|3, 634)

+ * 16th century – ''Fühlung'' “touch” is recorded, and the verb spreads with Luther.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB2|9, 1198)

+ * 1616 – Henisch reintroduces the verb into written Upper German.^(EWA|3, 634)

+ * 17th century – ''Gefühl'' is formed.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|292)

+ * 18th century – The verb is extended to emotions;^(Duden 7 2020|292)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch) ''Fühler'' is used for an insect's antenna.^(Duden 7 2020|292)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To perceive through touch or the nerves; to [[m|en|feel]] in the body: ''Sie fühlte die Kälte des Wassers an den Füßen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To examine or find out by touching: ''Der Sanitäter fühlte dem Verletzten den Puls.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To feel in the mind, to [[m|en|sense]] an emotion: ''Er fühlte Mitleid mit dem Kind.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|grope]] for something: ''Sie fühlte in der Tasche nach dem Schlüssel.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To feel oneself to be in a certain state: ''Ich fühle mich heute müde.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To consider oneself: ''Er fühlte sich für den Fehler verantwortlich.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(reflexive, colloquial)'' To be full of oneself: ''Seit der Beförderung fühlt sie sich aber!''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Gefühl]]

+ * [[Fühler]]

+ * [[Fühlung]]

+ * [[fühlbar]]

+ * [[gefühllos]]

+ * [[anfühlen]]

+ * [[befühlen]]

+ * [[einfühlen]]

+ * [[mitfühlen]]

+ * [[nachfühlen]]

+ * [[wohlfühlen]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|feel]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Jemandem auf den Zahn fühlen'' (“to feel someone's tooth”), to sound someone out or put someone to the test, is recorded by Adelung.^(Paul 2002)^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}