mittlerweile German · revision 35463

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=16th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /mɪtlɐˈvaɪ̯lə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mittlerweile'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a fusion of the Middle High German phrase [[m|gmh|in mitler wīle|t=in the meantime]], with the dative singular of the adjective [[mittel]] “middle” and of the noun [[Weile]] “while”.^(Kluge 2011|628)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden 7 2007) The adjective is [[gmh|mittel]], [[goh|mittil]], derived from [[gem-pro|*medja-|t=middle]], the source of [[Mitte]]; the same formation is [[nl|middel]] and [[en|middle]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007)^(Kroonen 2013) Its positive form is now rarely used outside compounds, and the adverb keeps it alive.^(Duden 7 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adverb appears in the 16th century.^(Kluge 2011|628)^(Pfeifer 1993) The Grimms' dictionary finds it rarely in sources of the 16th and 17th centuries, among them the ''Teuerdank'' and Johann Fischart's ''Geschichtklitterung'': ''mitlerweil warfen sechs seines hofgesinds .. senf in das maul'' (“meanwhile six of his courtiers threw mustard into his mouth”).^(DWB|12, 2425)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 18th century on the fused spelling became the rule, and the word was common with Lessing, Goethe and Schiller.^(DWB|12, 2425) Adelung lists ''mittlerweile'' and ''Mittlerzeit'' as adverbs meaning “in the meantime”.^(Adelung 1793) It was also used as a conjunction “while”, still by Goethe.^(DWB|12, 2425)^(Pfeifer 1993) Today it means both “meanwhile” and “by now, in the course of time”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 16th century – The phrase ''mittler Weile'' is joined into an adverb.^(Kluge 2011|628)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – The fused spelling becomes the rule.^(DWB|12, 2425)

+ * 1793 – Adelung records ''mittlerweile'' and ''Mittlerzeit''.^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # By now, in the course of time: ''Das Dorf ist mittlerweile eine kleine Stadt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|meanwhile|alt=Meanwhile]], in the meantime: ''Koch du, ich decke mittlerweile den Tisch.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(dated)'' As a conjunction: while, whereas.^(DWB|12, 2425)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mittel]]

+ * [[Mitte]]

+ * [[Weile]]

+ * [[en|middle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}