schon German · revision 35382

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=9th century, Old High German (Otfrid)|origins=gem-pro *skaunō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ʃoːn/, /ʃɔn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''schon''' (adverb, particle)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|schōne|t=beautifully, fittingly, completely]], [[inh|goh|scōno|t=beautifully]], [[inh|gem-pro|*skaunō]], originally the adverb of the adjective that became [[schön]].^(Kluge 2011|824)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary)^(Duden 7 2020) The adverb kept its old vowel without umlaut, and so parted from the adjective, in the same way as [[fast]] beside [[fest]].^(Duden 7 2020)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|15, 1459)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''scōno'' is used by Otfrid (863–871), and in Notker and the ''Physiologus'', meaning “beautifully, splendidly, gloriously” and also “rightly, well”.^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|291)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 13th century the adverb became independent of the adjective.^(Kluge 2011|824)^(Duden 7 2020) Its meaning “in a fine way” passed to “in a fitting, proper way, so that nothing is lacking”, and then to “completely”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020) With words such as ''bereit'' “ready” it could be understood in a temporal way: Middle High German ''eʒ ist alleʒ schōne bereit'' “everything is completely ready” became “everything is already ready”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|824) Paul finds the sense “already” in the Augsburg town book in the second half of the 13th century.^(Paul 2002) Wiktionary compares the development of English [[m|en|pretty]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The old sense “beautifully” lived on in Early New High German;^(DWB|15, 1459) Luther writes ''die fromen sollen jn schon preisen'' (“the righteous shall praise him well”, Psalm 33:1).^(DWB|15, 1459) In some dialects it is still found, as in Bavarian ''schôn tuen''.^(DWB|15, 1459)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 863–871 – Otfrid uses Old High German ''scōno'' “beautifully”.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 13th century – The adverb becomes independent of the adjective ''schön''.^(Kluge 2011|824)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * Second half of the 13th century – First use in the sense “already”, in the Augsburg town book.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 16th century – Luther still uses ''schon'' for “beautifully”.^(DWB|15, 1459)

+ * 17th century – The form ''schone'' is still used by Logau.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1691 – Stieler records ''schon längst'' “long since”.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|already]]: earlier or sooner than expected.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Already, as much as: more than expected (''sie ist schon 90'').^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Even, just: less than expected is needed (''schon ein Remis wäre ein Erfolg'').^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # As early as: something is not new (''schon Platon'').^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Before, ever: at some time in the past.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(in questions)'' [[m|en|yet]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Particle===

+ # Admittedly, surely: marks a [[m|en|concession]] or weighs arguments.^(Wiktionary)

+ # Adds positive emphasis, often when something else is denied.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[wennschon]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[schön]]

+ * [[schonen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}