Gefahr German · revision 35492

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=9th century, Otfrid (Old High German fāra)|origins=gem-pro *fērō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɡəˈfaːɐ̯/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Gefahr''' ''f'' (genitive Gefahr, plural Gefahren)^(Wiktionary)

+ The simple form ''Fahr'', frequent in Luther, was still used until the 18th century, also by Wieland, Herder, Goethe and Schiller.^(Paul 2002)^(DWB|4, 2061)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|gevāre|t=ambush; deceit]], a form strengthened with the prefix [[m|gmh|ge-]] of [[m|gmh|vāre|t=ambush, malice]], [[inh|goh|fāra|t=ambush, snare]], [[inh|gem-pro|*fērō|t=danger]].^(Kluge 2011|339)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) The prefixed form appears only in the 14th and 15th centuries.^(Kluge 2011|339)^(DWB|4, 2061) The same simple noun is [[osx|fār|t=ambush]], [[non|fár|t=hostility, deceit]] and [[ang|fǣr]], which became English [[m|en|fear]].^(Kluge 2011|339)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge reconstructs it as Proto-Germanic [[m|gem-pro|*fǣrō]].^(Kluge 2011|339)

+

+ It is a noun with lengthened grade from a root [[ine-pro|*per-|t=to try, risk]], which is also in [[la|perīculum|t=danger, trial]], [[m|la|experīmentum|t=test]] and [[grc|πεῖρα|tr=peîra|t=attempt, trial]].^(Kluge 2011|339)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|306) Pfeifer assumes a development from “treacherous attempt” through “ambush” to “threatening harm”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''fāra'' is recorded in Otfrid (863–871), Notker and glosses, meaning “ambush, snare, persecution, temptation, treachery”, and also “danger”.^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|96) Middle High German ''gevāre'' meant “ambush, deceit, malice”.^(Kluge 2011|339)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The present meaning arose when the word was applied to the situation of the person against whom the ambush was aimed, and then also to threats from natural forces with no intention behind them.^(Paul 2002) In the 17th century one could still speak of the ''gefahr der feinde'' in the old active sense.^(DWB|4, 2060)

+

+ In commercial and legal language it means “risk”: ''auf jemandes Gefahr'' is recorded from 1678 and ''auf eigene Gefahr'' “at one's own risk” from 1716.^(Paul 2002) ''Gefahr laufen'' “to run the risk” (1716) was probably modelled on French ''courir risque''.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The old meaning “malice” survives in [[ungefähr]], from the legal formula ''âne gevære'' “without deceit”.^(Paul 2002)^(Kluge 2011|339)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 863–871 – Otfrid uses Old High German ''fāra''.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 14th–15th century – The prefixed form ''gevāre'' appears.^(DWB|4, 2061)^(Kluge 2011|339)

+ * 1678 – ''Auf jemandes Gefahr'' “at someone's risk” in commercial language.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1716 – ''Auf eigene Gefahr'' and ''Gefahr laufen'' are recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+ * Late 18th century – Adelung records the simple ''Fahr'' as an older word.^(Adelung 1793)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|danger]], [[m|en|peril]]: the possibility that harm will happen to someone or something: ''Bei Glatteis besteht Gefahr für Radfahrer.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|threat]]: someone or something that endangers others: ''Der Fahrer war eine Gefahr für den Verkehr.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(commerce)'' [[m|en|risk]]: ''auf Rechnung und Gefahr des Käufers''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gefährlich]]

+ * [[gefährden]]

+ * [[gefahrlos]]

+ * [[Lebensgefahr]]

+ * [[Gefahrenzone]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ungefähr]]

+ * [[willfahren]]

+ * [[Fährnis]]

+ * [[en|fear]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Set phrases include ''Gefahr laufen'' “to run the risk”, ''auf eigene Gefahr'' “at one's own risk” and ''außer Gefahr sein'' “to be out of danger”.^(Duden GWDS 1999) The proverb ''wer sich in Gefahr begibt, kommt darin um'' goes back to Sirach 3:27.^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''Die gelbe Gefahr'' “the yellow peril” arose at the end of the 19th century, perhaps after French ''le péril jaune''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}