leider German · revision 35469

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=9th century, Otfrid|origins=gem-pro *laiþaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈlaɪ̯dɐ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''leider'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|leider]], [[inh|goh|leidōr|alt=leidōr, leidor]], originally the comparative of the adverb [[m|goh|leido]] ([[m|gmh|leide]]), which goes with the adjective [[leid]].^(Kluge 2011|570)^(Duden 7 2020|506)^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(DWB|12, 673) The adjective is [[m|goh|leid|t=hateful, painful]], [[gem-pro|*laiþaz|t=hateful, hostile]], also in [[osx|lēð]], [[ang|lāþ]] (whence [[en|loath]]) and [[non|leiðr]];^(Pfeifer 1993)^(EWA|5, 1126)^(Köbler AHD) Gothic has no such word.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(EWA|5, 1126)^(Köbler AHD) Pfeifer compares [[grc|ἀλείτης|tr=aleítēs|t=sinner]] and connects it, probably, with a root [[ine-pro|*leit-|t=to loathe, do wrong]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ The intensified phrase with the genitive of [[Gott]] has a separate source: Kluge and Duden derive it from an oath “by the suffering of God”, with the noun [[Leiden]].^(Kluge 2011|570)^(Duden 7 2020|506)^(FWB)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''leidōr'' is recorded in the 9th century, in Otfrid, the Ludwigslied and later Notker, as an adverb and interjection meaning “alas, unfortunately”.^(Kluge 2011|570)^(Schützeichel 2012|196) Notker writes ''jâ leidor chad ih'' “yes, alas, said I”.^(DWB|12, 673)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word has kept the same function since Old High German: a comment of regret on what is said.^(DWB|12, 673)^(Adelung 1793) Middle High German could add a dative of the person, ''leider uns'' “to our sorrow”, in Hartmann's ''Iwein''.^(DWB|12, 673) Luther's Bible has ''unser ist leider wenig blieben'' (Jeremiah 42:2), and Adelung cites this as the model use.^(Adelung 1793)^(DWB|12, 673)

+

+ In answers it combines with ''ja'' and ''nein''.^(DWB|12, 673)^(Duden GWDS 1999) Adelung regarded ''leider Gottes'' as a phrase of common speech, explaining it as “be it lamented to God”.^(Adelung 1793) Early New High German also had adjectival uses, “causing grief”, which have disappeared.^(FWB)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 9th century – Old High German ''leidōr'' in Otfrid and the Ludwigslied.^(Kluge 2011|570)^(Schützeichel 2012|196)

+ * c. 1000 – Notker uses ''leidor''.^(DWB|12, 673)

+ * Middle High German – ''leider'' appears in the Nibelungenlied and Hartmann's ''Iwein''.^(DWB|12, 673)

+ * 16th century – Luther's Bible: ''unser ist leider wenig blieben''.^(DWB|12, 673)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|unfortunately]], regrettably, to my (your, our…) [[m|en|regret]]: ''Leider ist das Konzert ausverkauft.''; as an answer, ''Leider ja!'' “I'm afraid so”, ''Leider nein!'' “I'm afraid not”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Leid]]

+ * [[en|loath]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Leider Gottes'' (colloquial) is a stronger “unfortunately”.^(Kluge 2011|570)^(Adelung 1793) The separate noun [[Leider]] “sufferer”, from [[leiden]], survives mainly in [[Hungerleider]] and the older ''Mitleider''.^(DWB|12, 673)^(Adelung 1793)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}