Vorstellung German · revision 35552

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1600|origins=gem-pro *stalljaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈfoːɐ̯ˌʃtɛlʊŋ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Vorstellung''' ''f'' (genitive Vorstellung, plural Vorstellungen)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|de|vorstellen|-ung|t1=to put in front; to present; to imagine]], as a noun of action matching the senses of the verb.^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)^(Paul 2002) That verb combines [[vor]] with [[stellen]], [[gmh|stellen]], [[goh|stellen|t=to set up, place]], recorded from the 8th century.^(Kluge 2011|881)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge takes the simple verb as a denominative from [[Stall]] in its old sense “standing place”, from [[gem-pro|*stalla-]], or as a causative of a root [[ine-pro|*stel-]] not otherwise found in Germanic.^(Kluge 2011|881)^(EWA|8, 1038) If that noun belongs to the root of [[stehen]], the verb can only be a denominative.^(EWA|8, 1038)^(Kroonen 2013)

+

+ The Grimms' dictionary records the older form [[Fürstellung]], and notes that [[da|forestilling]] was modelled on the German word.^(DWB|26, 1688)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The German Wiktionary dates the noun to around 1600, Paul to the 17th century.^(Wiktionary DE)^(Paul 2002) Early uses refer to bringing someone before a court, as in Ayrer's legal work of 1600, which speaks of what should happen ''vor der vorstellung'' of the witnesses.^(DWB|26, 1688) Stieler (1691) glosses it with Latin ''demonstratio'', ''editio'' and ''significatio'', and in common use ''installatio''.^(DWB|26, 1688)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun first followed the verb's senses of presenting someone: introducing a person to another, installing a preacher or official, presenting witnesses in court and officers at a muster.^(DWB|26, 1688) It also named the staging of a play, as in Lohenstein (1689), Lessing and Goethe, and remonstrances or written petitions to an authority, as in Leibniz and Lessing;^(DWB|26, 1688)^(Paul 2002) ''jemandem Vorstellungen machen'' “to remonstrate with someone” continues this.^(DWB|26, 1688)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The sense “mental image, idea”, which became the commonest, prevailed only in the 18th century and was then taken into the technical language of philosophy, losing the verbal sense.^(DWB|26, 1688) Christian Wolff writes of the ''vorstellungen der seele'' in 1720, and dictionaries of the time equate it with Latin ''repraesentatio''.^(DWB|26, 1688) ''Vorstellungsart'' was a favourite word of Goethe's.^(Paul 2002) English borrowed the word as a philosophical term in 1807–1808.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Around 1600 – First records of ''Vorstellung''.^(Wiktionary DE)^(DWB|26, 1688)

+ * 1677 – Christian Weise uses it of installing a new council.^(DWB|26, 1688)

+ * 1689 – Lohenstein uses it of the staging of a play.^(DWB|26, 1688)

+ * 1720 – Christian Wolff writes of the ''vorstellungen der seele''.^(DWB|26, 1688)

+ * 1796 – Goethe speaks of his “realistic ''Vorstellungsart''” in a letter.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1807–1808 – English ''Vorstellung'' “idea, mental image” is first recorded.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|introduction]], making someone or something known: ''Nach der Vorstellung der neuen Kollegin begann die Sitzung.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Presenting oneself for a job, an [[m|en|interview]]: ''Sie wurde zur Vorstellung in die Zentrale eingeladen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # An [[m|en|idea]], a picture in the mind: ''Er hatte eine ganz falsche Vorstellung von dem Beruf.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|imagination]], fancy: ''Das gibt es nur in deiner Vorstellung.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # A [[m|en|performance]] of a play, a screening of a film: ''Die Vorstellung beginnt um acht.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(formal, usually plural)'' An objection, a remonstrance: ''jemandem Vorstellungen machen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Vorstellungskraft]]

+ * [[Vorstellungsvermögen]]

+ * [[Vorstellungsgespräch]]

+ * [[Wahnvorstellung]]

+ * [[Zwangsvorstellung]]

+ * [[Wunschvorstellung]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vorstellen]]

+ * [[stellen]]

+ * [[Stellung]]

+ * [[Stall]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}