dann German · revision 35405

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=8th century|origins=gem-pro *þan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /dan/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dann''' (adverb)^(Wiktionary)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|danne]], [[inh|goh|danna]], [[inh|gem-pro|*þan|t=then]].^(Kluge 2011|181)^(Wiktionary) Like [[ofs|thana]] and [[ang|þonne]], it is the time adverb [[gem-pro|*þan]] extended with an n-particle; [[osx|thanna]] is the same word, and [[non|þá]] continues the simple form.^(Kluge 2011|181)^(Pfeifer 1993) Today the same word is [[nl|dan]] and English [[m|en|then]] and [[m|en|than]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020)

+

+ The Germanic adverb was formed with a temporal n-suffix from the demonstrative stem [[ine-pro|*to-]] of [[m|de|der]] and [[da]];^(Kluge 2011|181)^(Pfeifer 1993) Wiktionary calls the details unclear.^(Wiktionary) The Grimms derived it from an accusative of the demonstrative, comparing [[la|tum|t=then]], and the form [[goh|denne]] from the accusative [[m|goh|den]];^(DWB|2, 740) the EWA calls the latter untenable.^(EWA|2, 528) The umlauted form [[denn]] is originally the same word.^(Kluge 2011|181)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB2|6, 240)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''danna'', ''danne'' is recorded from the 8th century; its oldest uses are as a comparative particle “than” and as a temporal conjunction and adverb “then, when”.^(Kluge 2011|181)^(EWA|2, 528) The EWA lists the senses “then, thereupon, further, moreover, at that time” and, as a conjunction, “when, while, since”.^(EWA|2, 528)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Until the 18th century ''dann'' and ''denn'' were used without a difference in meaning, most writers preferring one of them: Luther wrote only ''denn'', while Steinhöwel and Fischart preferred ''dann''.^(Kluge 2011|181)^(DWB|2, 740)^(Paul 2002) In the second half of the 18th century the written language divided the functions: ''dann'' kept the adverbial uses “afterwards” and “in that case”, while ''denn'' took over the conjunction and the comparative.^(DWB2|6, 240)^(Pfeifer 1993) English separated ''than'' and ''then'' at about the same time.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The dialects did not follow this division: Rhenish, South Hessian and Palatinate German use ''dann'' in all functions, while East Central German and Low German have no ''dann'' and use ''denn'' for everything.^(EWA|2, 528)^(DWB2|6, 240) The formula ''dann und wann'' “now and then” was considered a Brandenburg word by the poet Canitz, but Adelung found it common in Upper Saxony as well.^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 8th century – Old High German ''danna'', ''danne'' is recorded.^(Kluge 2011|181)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 9th century – ''thanne noh'' “still at that time”, the source of ''dennoch'', is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 16th century – Luther writes only ''denn'', for all functions.^(DWB|2, 740)

+ * Second half of the 18th century – The written language separates ''dann'' and ''denn''.^(DWB2|6, 240)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|then]], afterwards: ''erst spielten sie, dann stritten sie sich''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Then, next in a row or in rank: ''an der Spitze eine Kapelle, dann eine Trachtengruppe''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Then, in that case, under that [[m|en|condition]]: ''lehnt die Firma ab, dann klagen wir''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Moreover, besides: ''und dann kommt noch die Steuer hinzu''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # At a certain later time: ''bis dann!'' “see you then”;^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''dann und wann'' “now and then”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(regional, in exclamations)'' So, well then: ''dann mach doch!''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Than, for: as ''denn''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[alsdann]]

+ * [[sodann]]

+ * [[dennoch]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[denn]]

+ * [[da]]

+ * [[wann]]

+ * [[dannen]]

+ * [[en|then]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}