melden German · revision 35540

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=9th century|origins=gmw-pro *melþōn}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmɛldən/, [ˈmɛl.dn̩]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''melden''' (third-person singular present meldet, past tense meldete, past participle gemeldet, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|melden|t=to tell, announce, betray]], [[inh|goh|meldōn|t=to denounce, betray]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*melþōn|t=to point out, announce, betray]].^(Kluge 2011|614)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) Old High German also had a form [[m|goh|meldēn]] of another weak class.^(Kluge 2011|614)^(Köbler AHD) The same word is [[osx|meldon]] and [[ang|meldian]], continued in [[nl|melden]]; it is derived from a noun meaning “denunciation, betrayal”, Old High German [[m|goh|melda]] and Old English [[m|ang|meld]].^(Kluge 2011|614)^(Pfeifer 1993) The Grimms' dictionary notes that the verb is found only in West Germanic, with no relatives in Gothic or outside Germanic.^(DWB|12, 1991)

+

+ Its further origin is disputed.^(Kluge 2011|614)^(Duden 7 2014) One view, going back to Benveniste, connects it with [[lt|melsti|t=to ask, pray]] and [[m|lt|malda|alt=maldà|t=request, prayer]] and a root of ritual address to the gods;^(Kluge 2011|614)^(Pfeifer 1993) Pfeifer follows it, setting up [[ine-pro|*meldʰ-|t=to address ritual words to a deity]].^(Kluge 2011|614)^(Pfeifer 1993) Another, Fraenkel's, joins it to words for lying and deceit, such as [[sga|mellaid|t=deceives]].^(Kluge 2011|614)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch) Kluge finds the second closer in meaning, but notes that the Germanic verb can also be neutral (“to report”), and considers most likely a root meaning “to come, appear”, causative “to show”, found in [[grc|βλώσκω|tr=blṓskō|t=to go, come]].^(Kluge 2011|614) [[hit|mald-|t=to recite, vow]] could belong to either of the first two.^(Kluge 2011|614) Duden calls the origin unclear.^(Duden 7 2014)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''meldēn'' is first recorded in glosses of about 790, and ''meldōn'' in the Tatian (about 830); the agent noun ''meldāri'' “traitor” is older, from the 8th century.^(Köbler AHD)^(Kluge 2011|614) Schützeichel gives the senses “to reveal; to slander, betray” in the Benedictine Rule, the Murbach Hymns and Notker, and “to denounce, betray” in Otfrid and the Tatian.^(Schützeichel 2012|219) Notker writes that Judas ''meldet'' (betrays) Christ to the Jews.^(DWB|12, 1991)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the older stages the verb meant “to give away a secret, betray”.^(Duden 7 2014)^(Paul 2002) The Grimms' dictionary sees the hostile sense of betraying or informing as the oldest, also shown by the derivatives: Old High German ''meldāri'' was a traitor or spy and ''meldunga'' betrayal.^(DWB|12, 1991)^(Pfeifer 1993) Luther still used it so in Matthew 12:16, where Jesus charges those he healed not to make him known.^(Paul 2002)^(DWB|12, 1991)

+

+ In Middle High German the idea of secrecy faded, and the verb came to mean “to announce, tell, name”.^(Duden 7 2014) Today it is often “to report as a duty”, to an authority or a superior, and reflexively “to present oneself, come forward”.^(Duden 7 2014)^(Paul 2002) In chancery language ''jemanden melden'' meant “to mention someone”, which survives in ''obgemeldet'' (“above-mentioned”), and ''vermelden'' belonged to the formal language of chanceries and compliments.^(Paul 2002) The noun ''Meldung'' follows the senses of the verb;^(Paul 2002) Paul cites it from Adelung (1777) and notes its use for a news report in the media.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 790 – Old High German ''meldēn'' in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 8th century – The agent noun ''meldāri'' “traitor”.^(Kluge 2011|614)

+ * c. 830 – ''meldōn'' in the Old High German Tatian.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 1150–1170 – Middle High German ''melden'' in Lamprecht's ''Alexander''.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 1777 – Adelung records the noun ''Meldung''.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|report]], announce (as news or an official report): ''Das Radio meldete einen Stau auf der Autobahn.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To report, notify (to the proper authority); to [[m|en|register]] someone: ''einen Diebstahl der Polizei melden''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To come forward, [[m|en|volunteer]], apply or enter (for a task or an examination).^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To get in touch, be heard from.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To put one's hand up (of pupils in class).^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a dog: to give [[m|en|tongue]], bark a warning.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(hunting)'' Of a stag or a capercaillie: to make its rutting call.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(sports)'' To enter (a competitor).^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Meldung]]

+ * [[vermelden]]

+ * [[abmelden]]

+ * [[anmelden]]

+ * [[krankmelden]]

+ * [[ummelden]]

+ * [[zurückmelden]]

+ * [[Melder]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Nichts zu melden haben'' (colloquial) is to have no say in a matter.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}