stets German · revision 35601

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=late Middle High German|origins=ine-pro *steh₂-}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ʃteːts/^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''stets'''^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|stætes]], the genitive of the adjective [[stet]] (Middle High German [[m|gmh|stæte]], Old High German [[m|goh|stāti|t=firm, lasting]]) frozen as an adverb.^(Kluge 2011|883)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|822)^(DWB|18, 2580) The same adverb is [[gml|stēdes]] and [[nl|steeds]], and [[sv|städs]] and older Danish [[m|da|steds]] were taken from Middle Low German.^(DWB|18, 2580)^(Pfeifer 1993)

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+ Kluge explains the adjective as a verbal adjective, probably to the verb [[m|goh|standan]] (see [[Stand]]) though the vowel does not fit, or else to [[stehen]], with a ti- or tjo-suffix.^(Kluge 2011|883) Pfeifer and the Duden take it as a formation with a dental suffix to the root [[ine-pro|*steh₂-|t=to stand]], with an original sense “standing firm”, in time “lasting”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|822) The Duden notes that the adjective is found only in German.^(Duden 7 2020|822)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adverb is recorded from the end of the courtly period, in late Middle High German, meaning “continually, without a break”: ''daz si stetes zu bette muste legin'' “that she had to lie in bed all the time” (life of Saint Louis).^(DWB|18, 2580) Konrad von Megenberg's ''Buch der Natur'' says that a worm-eaten wood keeps well only if it is ''stætes mit rauch umbvangen'' “constantly surrounded by smoke”.^(DWB|18, 2580)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was used in full only from the 16th century, and has kept its meaning to the present.^(DWB|18, 2580) Early New High German used it of the whole span of a stated time, “continually”, sometimes tending towards “again and again”.^(FWB) The dialects rarely have it, and then from the written language; it is lacking in Bavarian, while some Low and Central German dialects say ''stets und ständig'', and Prussian ''stetsständig'' “continually”.^(DWB|18, 2580) The adjective ''stet'' itself has become obsolescent, and the extended form [[stetig]] is more common.^(Kluge 2011|883)^(Duden 7 2020|822) From ''stet'' the Upper German ''stad'' “quiet, calm” developed a sense of its own.^(Pfeifer 1993)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late Middle High German – ''stætes'' “constantly” appears.^(DWB|18, 2580)

+ * 16th century – The adverb comes into full use.^(DWB|18, 2580)

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+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(formal)'' [[m|en|always|alt=Always]], at all times, constantly: ''Er ist stets gut gelaunt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(formal)'' Every time, whenever the condition is given: ''Wenn es schneit, fährt sie stets mit dem Zug.''^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stet]]

+ * [[stetig]]

+ * [[bestätigen]]

+ * [[stehen]]

+ * [[Stand]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Stets und ständig'' “always and forever” is an emphatic doublet.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(DWB|18, 2580)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}