aber German · revision 35385

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=8th century, Old High German|origins=ine-pro *h₂epó}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈaːbɐ/, /ˈabɐ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''aber''' (conjunction, adverb, particle)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|aber]], [[inh|goh|avur]], [[inh|gem-pro|*aferą|t=behind, later]].^(Kluge 2011|4)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) The Old High German forms in ⟨-ar⟩, such as [[m|goh|afar]], and those in ⟨-ur⟩, such as [[m|goh|abur]], are not simple variants but continue different reconstructed forms.^(EWA|1, 401)^(Kluge 2011|4) To the first belong [[got|𐌰𐍆𐌰𐍂|tr=afar|t=after]], [[osx|aƀaro|t=descendant]] and [[gml|āver]], to the second [[ang|eafora|t=descendant]] and the prefix [[non|aur-|t=lower, rear]].^(EWA|1, 401)^(Pfeifer 1993) The /b/ of the German forms is probably due to weak stress.^(Kluge 2011|4)

+

+ Like [[sa|अपर|tr=apara|t=later, rear]] and [[ae|apara-|t=rear, later]], it is an old comparative formation from [[ine-pro|*h₂epó|t=off, away]], the source of [[ab]], so its first meaning was “farther away, later”.^(Kroonen 2013)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020)^(Wiktionary) Kluge points out that these comparatives look formally like forms of [[m|ine-pro|*epi|t=on, at]], but in meaning belong with the root meaning “off, away”; following Dunkel he gives the meaning priority, and allows for forms of both mixing in Germanic.^(Kluge 2011|4)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''avur'', ''afar'' is recorded from the 8th century, already both as an adverb “again, once more” and as a conjunction “but, however”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|4) It is used in the Benedictine Rule, Isidor, the ''Muspilli'', the ''Ludwigslied'' and other texts.^(Schützeichel 2012|29)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “farther away, later” German developed the sense “again, once more”, and the use for a contrast grew out of this use for repetition.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020) Both were present in Old High German, but the conjunction became fully established only in late Old High German.^(Pfeifer 1993) Luther still used the adverb often, as in ''und aber über ein kleines'' “and again a little while” (John 16:16).^(DWB|1, 29)^(Paul 2002) From the 16th century [[wieder]] gradually replaced it, and by the 18th century it was rare and old-fashioned; it survives in ''aber und abermals'' “again and again”, [[abertausend]] and [[abermals]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ As a prefix ''aber-'' marks a false counterpart, as in [[Aberglaube]] “superstition” and [[Aberwitz]] “folly”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020) Pfeifer derives this from the sense of repetition, while Kluge sees a development from “behind” to “worse”, as in the compound form of [[After]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|4) The noun ''Aber'' “objection, snag” is recorded from the 16th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB2|1, 175)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 8th century – Old High German ''avur'', ''afar'' is first recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|4)

+ * Late Middle High German – ''abergloube'' “superstition” appears, common from the late 15th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * Second half of the 15th century – ''abermals'' is contracted from ''aber eines males''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 16th century – ''wieder'' begins to replace the adverb ''aber'' “again”, and the noun ''Aber'' “objection” appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1541 – Sebastian Franck: ''es ist kein mensch on ein aber'' (“there is no one without a but”).^(DWB2|1, 175)

+ * 18th century – The adverb ''aber'' “again” is rare and archaic.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # [[m|en|but]], however: marks a contrast.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # But, though: adds a restriction or [[m|en|reservation]] (''arm, aber nicht unglücklich'').^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # But: introduces an [[m|en|objection]] or reply.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ===Particle===

+ # Adds emphasis (''aber ja'', ''aber gern'').^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Expresses the speaker's feelings or surprise (''du spielst aber gut!'').^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(dated)'' Again, once more, now only in fixed phrases (''aber und abermals'').^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[abermals]]

+ * [[abertausend]]

+ * [[Aber]]

+ * [[Aberglaube]]

+ * [[abergläubisch]]

+ * [[Aberwitz]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ab]]

+ * [[After]]

+ * [[Ebbe]]

+ * [[Ufer]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Ohne Wenn und Aber'' means “without any ifs and buts”, and ''die Sache hat ihr Aber'' “the matter has its snag”.^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''Aber, aber!'' is a mild reproach, “now, now!”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) A regional adjective ''aber'', usually ''aper'', “free of snow, sunny”, has a different origin: it continues Old High German ''ābar''.^(DWB|1, 31)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}