Hoffnung German · revision 35545

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Middle High German|origins=gmw-pro *hopōn}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈhɔfnʊŋ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Hoffnung''' ''f'' (genitive Hoffnung, plural Hoffnungen)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|hoffenunge]], a derivative [[af|gmh|hoffen|-unge]], the verb [[hoffen]] with the suffix [[-ung]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|374)^(Wiktionary DE) The Grimms consider the rarer Middle High German [[m|gmh|hoffung]], which matches [[gml|hopinge]], the more regular formation.^(DWB|10, 1673)

+

+ The verb is recorded from the 12th century and goes back to [[gmw-pro|*hopōn]], also found in [[ang|hopian]] (9th century), the source of [[en|hope]], in [[m|gml|hōpen]] and in [[nl|hopen]].^(Kluge 2011|421)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) It spread from the north: Pfeifer suggests it may have come to the continent with the Anglo-Saxon mission, and it replaced [[goh|thingen|t=to hope]], Middle High German [[m|gmh|gedingen]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Schützeichel 2012|72)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Its origin is unclear.^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge connects it with [[grc|κύπτω|tr=kúptō|t=I stoop, bend forward]] and the root [[ine-pro|*keu-|t=to bend]]: one leans forward to see further, and so looks into the future; the hunters' [[verhoffen]], of game stopping to watch, and the sense “to fear” in Old Low German glosses would fit this.^(Kluge 2011|421) Pfeifer and Duden think instead of [[hüpfen]], “jumping up with expectation”, but find that link doubtful.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|374)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Middle High German the word was still regional: Berthold of Regensburg explains that the virtue is called ''gedinge'' in some places, ''hoffenunge'' in others and ''zuversicht'' in others, ''spes'' in Latin.^(DWB|10, 1673)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In New High German the word became general, helped by Luther's Bible, with ''glaube, hoffnung, liebe, diese drei'' (1 Corinthians 13:13) and ''hoffnung aber leszt nicht zu schanden werden'' (“hope maketh not ashamed”, Romans 5:5).^(DWB|10, 1673) Besides the expectation of something good it could mean a claim to something, or the person or thing in which one's hopes rest.^(DWB|10, 1673)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

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+ ''Guter Hoffnung sein'' “to be pregnant” is recorded by Adelung in 1793; it is now dated.^(Adelung 1793)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 9th century – Old English ''hopian'' “to hope” is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 12th century – The verb ''hoffen'' appears in Middle High German.^(Kluge 2011|421)

+ * 1793 – Adelung records ''guter Hoffnung seyn'' “to be pregnant”.^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|hope]], confidence in what the future will bring: ''Sie gab die Hoffnung nicht auf.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An expectation placed in someone or something: ''Er macht sich große Hoffnungen auf den Preis.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person in whom great expectations are placed: ''Sie gilt als die große Hoffnung des Vereins.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hoffnungslos]]

+ * [[hoffnungsvoll]]

+ * [[Hoffnungsschimmer]]

+ * [[Hoffnungsstrahl]]

+ * [[Hoffnungsträger]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hoffen]]

+ * [[hoffentlich]]

+ * [[unverhofft]]

+ * [[en|hope]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Guter Hoffnung sein'' or ''in der Hoffnung sein'' is a dated euphemism for being pregnant.^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt'' “hope dies last” is a common saying.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}