zufrieden German · revision 35441

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=early 14th century, Meister Eckhart}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * [t͡suˈfʁiːdn̩], [-dən]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Also, colloquial: [t͡sə-]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''zufrieden''' (strong nominative masculine singular zufriedener, comparative zufriedener, superlative am zufriedensten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound [[af|de|zu|Frieden|t2=peace]], the phrase “at peace” grown together into one word.^(Kluge 2011|1016)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) It was first used with verbs of direction such as [[setzen]], [[stellen]] and [[kommen]] (“to bring to rest”), became an adverb in the 16th century and an inflected adjective in the 17th.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) Wiktionary takes it as a likely loan translation of [[gml|tô vrēde]] and [[dum|te vrēden]] (modern [[nl|tevreden]]), both recorded from the 13th century.^(Wiktionary) The Grimms' dictionary also notes that the phrase is found earlier and more often in Middle Low German and Middle Dutch, and that the oldest High German records come from Hesse and the Rhineland.^(DWB|32, 365)

+

+ The noun goes back to [[goh|fridu]], from [[gem-pro|*friþuz|t=peace]], an abstract noun from the root of [[frei]].^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler lists Middle High German ''zevriden'' “content” in Meister Eckhart (before 1326) and Tauler.^(Köbler MHD) Paul dates the first record to 1433, and Kluge places the word in the 16th century.^(Paul 2002)^(Kluge 2011|1016) Among the oldest High German records is the Alsfeld Passion Play, where the Church says ''ich wel mich stellen zufredde'' “I will put myself at ease”.^(DWB|32, 365)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The fixed verbal phrases ''zufriedenstellen'', ''zufriedenlassen'' and ''sich zufriedengeben'', closest to the original sense, were in general use by the end of the 15th century.^(DWB|32, 365)^(Paul 2002) From the predicate use ''zufrieden sein'' the phrase came to be felt as an adjective from the end of the 17th century, inflected and placed before nouns; [[Zufriedenheit]] (1648, Rist) and [[unzufrieden]] (18th century) followed.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) Early New High German construed it with the genitive, as Goethe still does in ''Faust II'' (''bin des Dienstes ich wohl zufrieden''), of which ''ich bin's zufrieden'' “I agree” is a relic; in the 18th century ''zufrieden von'' was common, later replaced by ''zufrieden mit''.^(Paul 2002) Upper German also had the forms ''zufriede'' and ''zufried''.^(DWB|32, 365)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1326 – Middle High German ''zevriden'' in Meister Eckhart.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 1433 – First record according to Paul.^(Paul 2002)

+ * End of the 15th century – ''zufrieden stellen'', ''zufrieden lassen'' and ''sich zufrieden geben'' are in general use.^(DWB|32, 365)

+ * 16th century – Used as an adverb.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1648 – ''Zufriedenheit'' in Rist.^(Paul 2002)

+ * End of the 17th century – Used and inflected as an adjective.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 18th century – ''unzufrieden'' appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|content|alt=Content]], at ease with one's circumstances and wishing no change: ''ein zufriedener Rentner''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|satisfied|alt=Satisfied]] (''mit'' someone or something), having nothing to object to: ''Der Trainer ist mit der Mannschaft zufrieden.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Zufriedenheit]]

+ * [[unzufrieden]]

+ * [[zufriedenstellen]]

+ * [[zufriedengeben]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Frieden]]

+ * [[befriedigen]]

+ * [[nl|tevreden]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Jemanden zufriedenlassen'' is to leave someone in peace, ''sich mit etwas zufriedengeben'' to make do with something, and ''jemanden zufriedenstellen'' to satisfy someone's wishes.^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''Ich bin es zufrieden'' “I am agreed” is dated.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}