Nähe German · revision 35603

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=9th century, Old High German (Tatian, Otfrid)|origins=gem-pro *nēhwaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈnɛːə/, /ˈneːə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Nähe''' ''f'' (genitive Nähe, no plural)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|næhe]], [[inh|goh|nāhī]], the abstract noun of [[nah]] (Old High German [[m|goh|nāh]]).^(Wiktionary)^(DWB|13, 288)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The adjective goes back to [[gem-pro|*nēhwaz|t=near]], also found in [[osx|nāh]], [[ang|nēah]] (whence [[en|nigh]]), the Old Norse prefix [[m|non|ná-]] and [[got|𐌽𐌴𐍈|tr=nēƕ]], [[m|got|𐌽𐌴𐍈𐌰|tr=nēƕa]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kroonen 2013)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ Its origin is uncertain.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020) Pfeifer weighs a compound of [[an]] with the root of [[Auge]], [[ine-pro|*okʷ-|t=to see]], meaning “looking towards”, against a link with [[ine-pro|*enḱ-|t=to reach]], the root of [[genug]].^(Pfeifer 1993) Kroonen takes it as a lengthened-grade adjective from the root “to reach”, which he writes [[m|ine-pro|*h₂neḱ-]].^(Kroonen 2013) A connection with [[lt|pranokti|alt=pranókti|t=to overtake]] and [[lv|nākt|t=to come]] is difficult because of the vowel grade.^(Pfeifer 1993)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''nāhī'' is recorded from the 9th century in the Tatian, Otfrid and Notker, meaning “nearness, the near time, neighbourhood”.^(Schützeichel 2012|232)^(Wiktionary DE)^(Adelung 1793)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle High German already used ''in die næhe'' as a phrase for the adverb: ''komt uns der keiser in die næhe'' “if the emperor comes near us” (''Lohengrin'').^(DWB|13, 288)^(Paul 2002) Luther's Bible pairs it with [[Ferne]]: ''beide in der nehe und ferne'' (Jeremiah 25:26), and Hans Sachs rhymes ''in der nech''.^(DWB|13, 288) Early New High German used it for nearness in space, for an inner affinity with something, and for nearness in time, the near future or the recent past.^(FWB)

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+ The modern language uses it also for the closeness between people, as when Peter Handke writes of feeling ''die Nähe als einen Austausch von Zärtlichkeit'' “nearness as an exchange of tenderness”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002) Compounds such as [[Bürgernähe]] use it for an institution's closeness to the people it serves.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 9th century – Old High German ''nāhī'' appears in the Tatian and Otfrid.^(Wiktionary DE)^(Schützeichel 2012|232)

+ * 1460 – A Frankfurt record uses ''nêhe'' for a ferry.^(DWB|13, 289)

+ * 16th century – Luther's Bible writes ''in der nehe und ferne''.^(DWB|13, 288)

+ * 1793 – Adelung defines it as the absence of any noticeable distance.^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|nearness|alt=Nearness]], a short distance: ''aus der Nähe'' “from close up”;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''in der Nähe'' “nearby”;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''in der Nähe des Bahnhofs''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The [[m|en|vicinity]], the area close by: ''Gibt es hier in der Nähe eine Apotheke?''^(Wiktionary)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Nearness in time of something coming: ''Die Prüfung ist in greifbare Nähe gerückt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Closeness to someone, an intimate relationship: ''Er sucht ihre Nähe.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Bürgernähe]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nah]]

+ * [[nahen]]

+ * [[nähern]]

+ * [[Nächster]]

+ * [[nach]]

+ * [[en|nigh]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A regional word ''Nähe'' (Hessian also ''das Näh'') is a flat ferry boat, recorded from 1460 in Frankfurt and still known in Bavarian and Swabian; the Grimms connect it with ''Naue'', not with ''nah''.^(DWB|13, 289)^(Wiktionary DE)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}