Vergleich German · revision 35452

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=17th century|origins=gem-pro *galīkaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fɛɐ̯ˈɡlaɪ̯ç/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Vergleich''' ''m'' (genitive Vergleiches or Vergleichs, plural Vergleiche)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the verb [[vergleichen]], which is [[gmh|vergelīchen|t=to make equal, settle]], with [[ver-]] added to [[m|gmh|gelīchen]], a verb from the adjective [[gleich]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)^(Kluge 2011|362) An older noun for the same idea was formed with the suffix [[-ung]] already in Middle High German.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The adjective is [[m|gmh|gelīch]], [[goh|gilīh]], from [[gem-pro|*galīkaz|t=having the same shape]], a compound of [[m|gem-pro|*ga-]] and [[m|gem-pro|*līką|t=body, shape]], the word continued in [[Leiche]].^(Kluge 2011|362)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) The same adjective is [[got|𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃|tr=galeiks]], [[non|glíkr]], [[ang|gelīc]] and [[nl|gelijk]], and [[en|like]] continues it.^(Kluge 2011|362)^(Pfeifer 1993) Pfeifer adds [[lt|lýgus|t=equal, alike]] and reconstructs [[ine-pro|*līg-|t=shape; alike]], while Kluge prefers to separate the Baltic word, which may go back to “even, smooth”, and notes that the analysis of the Germanic compound is not as simple as it looks.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|362)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Grimms' dictionary finds no record before the 17th century;^(DWB|25, 448)^(Paul 2002) Stieler's dictionary of 1691 gives the legal sense “settlement”, with ''gerichtlicher Vergleich'' (settlement in court) and the proverb ''es ist besser ein magerer Vergleich als ein fettes Urteil'' (“a lean settlement is better than a fat verdict”).^(DWB|25, 448)^(Paul 2002) Opitz already used the noun several times for “comparison”.^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun followed the verb: at first it meant “making equal”, as in Logau's lines on sleep and death, which make a ''Vergleich'' between rich and poor; then “agreement, amicable settlement”, which has survived as the legal term.^(DWB|25, 448)^(Paul 2002) In the 18th century it developed the sense “setting things side by side to find their differences”, with ''im Vergleich zu'' (“compared with”), and ''ohne Vergleich'' (“beyond compare”) is probably later.^(Paul 2002) Adelung (1793) still treats “comparison” as colloquial, for the likeness that makes comparing possible, and describes the settlement in detail.^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ The older ''Vergleichung'' was the usual word for “comparison”, and in the 16th and 17th centuries also the mathematical term, until ''Gleichung'' replaced it at the end of the 17th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) In stylistics ''Vergleich'' names a figure such as “black as ebony”, and in sport a match between two teams.^(Duden GWDS 1999) Polish dialects borrowed ''ferglajch'' (recorded 1863) for the admission of a newly qualified craftsman into the guild.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 8th century – Old High German ''gilīh'' “equal, alike” is recorded.^(Kluge 2011|362)^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 17th century – ''Vergleich'' first appears, in Stieler and in Opitz.^(DWB|25, 448)^(Adelung 1793)

+ * End of the 17th century – ''Gleichung'' replaces ''Vergleichung'' in mathematics.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – The sense “comparison” develops beside “settlement”.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1793 – Adelung calls the sense “comparison” colloquial.^(Adelung 1793)

+ * 1863 – Polish ''ferglajch'' is recorded.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|comparison]], a setting side by side of two or more things;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE) ''im Vergleich zu'', compared with: ''Im Vergleich zu ihrem Bruder ist sie sehr ruhig.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(stylistics)'' A [[m|en|simile]], a phrase likening one thing to another, as ''stark wie ein Bär''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(law)'' An amicable [[m|en|settlement]] of a dispute by mutual concessions: ''einen Vergleich schließen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(sports)'' A match between two teams or clubs.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vergleichen]]

+ * [[vergleichbar]]

+ * [[unvergleichbar]]

+ * [[unvergleichlich]]

+ * [[gleich]]

+ * [[Gleichnis]]

+ * [[Leiche]]

+ * [[begleichen]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Das ist doch kein Vergleich!'' means that one thing is far better or worse than the other, and a weak comparison is said to limp: ''der Vergleich hinkt''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}