bereit German · revision 35479

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=12th century|origins=gem-pro *raidaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Germany: /bəˈʁaɪ̯t/^(Wiktionary)

+ * /beˈʁaɪ̯t/, [b̥e-]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Austria, Southern-Germany, Switzerland: [-ˈʁaɛ̯t]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bereit''' (strong nominative masculine singular bereiter, comparative bereiter, superlative am bereitesten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|bereite]], [[inh|goh|bireiti|t=equipped, ready]], a formation with the prefix [[be-]] found only in German and Dutch.^(Kluge 2011|110)^(Duden 7 2014|162)^(Wiktionary) Beside it stand the unprefixed [[goh|reiti]] and the form with another prefix [[m|goh|gireiti]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler AHD) The adjective goes back to [[gem-pro|*raidaz|t=ready, arranged]], also found in [[got|𐌲𐌰𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌸𐍃|tr=garaiþs|t=appointed]], [[ang|rǣde]], [[en|ready]] and [[nl|bereid]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014|162)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Pfeifer, Duden and Wahrig connect it with [[reiten]] in its old sense “to travel”, so that it first meant “equipped for the journey”, much as [[fertig]] belongs to [[fahren]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014|162)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch) They compare [[sga|réid|t=level, easy]], [[cy|rhwydd|t=easy, free]] and [[lv|raids|t=ready]], from [[ine-pro|*reydʰ-|t=to ride, travel]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014|162) The revised Grimm dictionary calls this derivation uncertain,^(DWB2|4, 1012) Wiktionary derives the Germanic adjective instead from [[ine-pro|*h₂rey-|t=to count, put in order]],^(Wiktionary) and Duden notes that similar-sounding stems seem to have mixed early.^(Duden 7 2014|162)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Middle High German ''bereit'', ''bereite'' is recorded from the 12th century, among the first in Lamprecht's ''Alexander'' (1150–1170).^(Kluge 2011|110)^(Köbler MHD) It meant “ready, prepared, at hand”, of persons also “willing, eager”, and of money “in cash”.^(Köbler MHD)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle High German the adverb ''bereite'' meant “quickly, readily” and also “already”; from the 16th century it took a genitive ''-s'', giving [[bereits]] “already”, as English ''already'' was formed from ''ready''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|110)^(Lexer 1872) Duden dates the form with ''-s'' to the 17th century.^(Duden 7 2014|162)

+

+ The adjective is now used only predicatively (''bereit sein'', ''bereit stehen'').^(Paul 2002) The derivative [[Bereitschaft]] first meant equipment; the general sense “readiness” is recorded from 1678, and it has also named a body of troops, later a police unit.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden 7 2014|162)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 12th century – Middle High German ''bereit'' is first recorded.^(Kluge 2011|110)

+ * c. 1150 – Der arme Hartmann uses ''bereite'' for “willing”.^(DWB2|4, 1012)

+ * 16th century – The adverb [[bereits]] takes its ''-s''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1678 – [[Bereitschaft]] in the sense “readiness” is recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''bereit sein'': to be [[m|en|ready]], [[m|en|prepared]]: ''Das Essen ist bereit.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|willing|alt=Willing]], prepared to do something: ''Sie war bereit, ihm zu helfen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In phrases: ''sich bereit halten'' “to stand by”, ''etwas bereit haben'' “to have something at hand”, ''sich bereit erklären'' “to agree, declare oneself willing”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bereits]]

+ * [[Bereitschaft]]

+ * [[bereitwillig]]

+ * [[bereiten]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[reiten]]

+ * [[en|ready]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}