kämpfen German · revision 35355

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 800, Old High German Benedictine Rule|origins=la campus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /kɛm(p)fən/, [kɛmp͡fən], [kɛmfən]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''kämpfen''' (third-person singular present kämpft, past tense kämpfte, past participle gekämpft, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|kempfen]], [[inh|goh|kempfan]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*kampijan|t=to battle]], formed from the noun [[Kampf]], [[goh|kampf]], [[gmw-pro|*kamp|t=field, battle]].^(Wiktionary)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|468)^(Köbler AHD) The same noun is [[ang|camp]], [[osx|kamp]] and [[ofs|kamp]], with [[non|kapp|t=contest]] beside it.^(Kluge 2011|468)^(AWB)

+

+ The noun is probably an early borrowing of [[la|campus|t=field]], made before the High German consonant shift.^(Kluge 2011|468)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) Kluge explains that the first Germanic sense was “single combat”, fought on a marked-off field, for which the Latin word evidently served as a name.^(Kluge 2011|468) The same Latin word lies behind the later loans [[Camp]], [[kampieren]], [[Kampagne]] and [[Champignon]].^(Duden 7 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''kempfan'' is first recorded in the Benedictine Rule of about 800, meaning “to fight, contend”.^(Köbler AHD) Middle High German ''kempfen'' meant especially “to fight a single combat”, including the judicial duel.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Lexer 1872|1, 1547)^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb first meant the duel, especially a skilled one, and then any fight, also a struggle of the mind.^(DWB|11, 145) It was still used of duelling in the 17th century, and Hans Sachs reports that the old art of judicial combat was abolished around 1500 under Emperor Maximilian and gave way to the art of fencing.^(DWB|11, 145) Luther's Bible has Jacob told that he ''hast mit Gott und mit Menschen gekempft'' “has fought with God and with men” (Genesis 32:28).^(DWB|11, 145)

+

+ Adelung (1793) found it of people only in elevated style, but common of animals, and hunters used it of stags butting each other.^(Adelung 1793) The phrase ''Kampf ums Dasein'' (19th century) follows Darwin's [[en|struggle for existence]].^(Pfeifer 1993) The Low German form of the agent noun gave [[Kämpe]] “champion” in the 18th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 800 – Old High German ''kempfan'' in the Benedictine Rule.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 11th century – Old High German ''kampf'' appears in glosses.^(Kluge 2011|468)^(Köbler AHD)

+ * c. 1200 – Hartmann's ''Iwein'' uses ''kempfen'' of single combat.^(Köbler MHD)^(Lexer 1872|1, 1547)

+ * c. 1500 – The judicial duel is abolished, as Hans Sachs reports.^(DWB|11, 145)

+ * 16th century – First record of ''kämpferisch''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 19th century – ''Kampf ums Dasein'', after English ''struggle for existence''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|fight]] (in war, with weapons): ''Die Soldaten kämpften bis zur Erschöpfung.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To fight physically with someone; figuratively ''mit den Tränen kämpfen'' “to fight back tears” and ''mit dem Schlaf kämpfen'' “to struggle to stay awake”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To contend with an opponent by any means, to quarrel or compete: ''Die beiden Firmen kämpfen um denselben Markt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(sports)'' To compete; to give everything in a game: ''Die Mannschaft hat bis zur letzten Minute gekämpft.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To [[m|en|struggle]] hard for something: ''Sie kämpft seit Jahren für bessere Arbeitsbedingungen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To struggle inwardly over a decision: ''mit sich kämpfen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Reflexive: to make one's way with great effort: ''Wir kämpften uns durch den tiefen Schnee.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Kämpfer]]

+ * [[kämpferisch]]

+ * [[bekämpfen]]

+ * [[erkämpfen]]

+ * [[durchkämpfen]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Kampf]]

+ * [[Kämpe]]

+ * [[Camp]]

+ * [[kampieren]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}