links German · revision 35592

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=15th century|origins=gmh linc}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /lɪŋks/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''links''' (adverb; also a preposition with the genitive)^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|linkes]], originally the genitive singular of [[m|gmh|linc|t=left; awkward]], the ancestor of [[link]]; the adverb is recorded from the 15th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary)^(Duden 7 2007) Of this family only the noun [[goh|lenka|t=left hand]] is recorded in Old High German; the adjective took the place of the old Germanic word, [[m|goh|winistar|t=left]], which survives in [[sv|vänster]] and matches [[non|vinstri]], [[ang|winstre]] and [[osx|winistar]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007)^(Kluge 2011|579) Pfeifer explains that word as a comparative, [[ine-pro|*u̯enistro-]], meaning “on the better side”, a euphemism, from the root [[ine-pro|*u̯en-|t=to strive, wish, love]] of [[Wonne]], [[Wunsch]] and [[gewinnen]].^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The origin of the newer adjective is uncertain.^(Kluge 2011|579)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge takes it to have meant “awkward”, since words for left keep being renewed from that sense, and compares [[sv|linka|t=to limp]].^(Kluge 2011|579) Pfeifer and Duden suggest a nasalised form of the root [[ine-pro|*(s)leg-|t=to be slack, limp]] of [[Laken]];^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) Pfeifer also considers a link with [[lenken]] and [[Gelenk]], “bent” as opposed to [[recht]] “straight”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''lenka'' “left hand” is found only in glosses, while ''winistar'' “left” appears from the glosses (765) on and in Tatian, Otfrid and Notker.^(Schützeichel 2012|197)^(Schützeichel 2012|391)^(Köbler AHD) The adverb ''links'' “on the left” is recorded from the 15th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Adelung records ''links'' for “towards the left”, “on the reverse side” (''das Kleid links anziehen'' “to put the dress on inside out”), “with the left hand” and figuratively “wrongly”.^(Adelung 1793) The phrase ''links liegen lassen'', literally “to leave lying on the left”, came to mean “to ignore deliberately”.^(DWB|12, 1049)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ The political sense dates from the 19th century: following French ''la gauche'', it refers to the progressive parties, which after the Restoration sat on the left as seen from the president of the French chamber.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary DE) The old association of the left side with bad luck and clumsiness shows in ''zwei linke Hände haben'' “to be all thumbs”.^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 765 – Old High German ''winistar'' “left” in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 15th century – The adverb ''links'' appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1793 – Adelung records ''links'' “inside out” and “with the left hand”.^(Adelung 1793)

+ * 19th century – The political sense appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # On or to the [[m|en|left]]: ''An der Ampel links abbiegen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' With the left hand: ''Er schreibt links.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # On the reverse side, [[m|en|inside out]]: ''den Pullover links waschen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(knitting)'' With [[m|en|purl]] stitches.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Politically on the left: ''Sie steht politisch links.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # With a genitive: on the left side of: ''links des Flusses''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[linksherum]]

+ * [[linksum]]

+ * [[Linkshänder]]

+ * [[linksrheinisch]]

+ * [[Linksverkehr]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Linke]]

+ * [[link]]

+ * [[linkisch]]

+ * [[goh|winistar]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Jemanden links liegen lassen'' is to ignore someone on purpose, and ''etwas mit links machen'' is to do it with ease.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}