Treffen German · revision 35654

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=15th century|origins=gem-pro *drepaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈtʁɛfn̩/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Treffen''' ''n'' (genitive Treffens, plural Treffen)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|treffen|t=hostile encounter, decisive blow, battle]], the infinitive of the Middle High German verb “to meet the enemy” used as a noun.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020) Kluge dates this substantivised infinitive to the 15th century, in the sense “battle”.^(Kluge 2011|927)

+

+ The verb [[treffen]] is [[goh|treffan]], from [[gem-pro|*drepaną|t=to hit, strike]], also found in [[osx|drepan]], [[ang|drepan|t=to strike, kill]] and [[non|drepa|t=to strike, kill]].^(Kluge 2011|927)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) Kluge finds no usable comparison outside Germanic, and Pfeifer no certain one.^(Kluge 2011|927)^(Pfeifer 1993) Duden and the Grimms' dictionary connect it with [[got|𐌲𐌰𐌳𐍂𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌽|tr=gadraban|t=to hew out]] and perhaps with [[ru|дробить|tr=drobitʹ|t=to break into pieces]] and its relatives.^(Duden 7 2020)^(DWB|21, 1586) According to Wiktionary, Kroonen explains the Germanic verb as a back-formation from an iterative of [[m|gem-pro|*drabaną|t=to hew]], from a root [[ine-pro|*dʰrebʰ-|t=to grind, crush]] known otherwise only from [[lt|drėbti|alt=drė̃bti|t=to strike]] and [[sla-pro|*drobìti|t=to crush]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Middle High German ''treffen'', used as a noun, meant a hostile encounter, a decisive blow or a fight.^(Pfeifer 1993) Early New High German used it for a joust, a duel, a scuffle, a skirmish or a battle between two armies.^(FWB) A Low German glossary of 1623 renders Latin ''conflictus'' with ''das treffend''.^(DWB|21, 1654)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The military sense was at its height in the 17th century and was still common in the 19th, but it has since left the language of the army.^(DWB|21, 1654) In the 18th century ''Treffen'' also named a line of troops in battle order.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary DE) The phrase ''etwas ins Treffen führen'' “to bring something into the battle”, that is to put it forward as an argument, keeps the old sense.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The sense “meeting, gathering” arose in the first half of the 20th century, and the short form ''Treff'' for a meeting or meeting place in the middle of that century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020) Swedish formed ''drabbning'' after the German noun in the 17th century and also borrowed ''träffning''.^(DWB|21, 1654)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 15th century – ''Treffen'' is first recorded in the sense “battle, engagement”.^(Kluge 2011|927)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020)

+ * 1623 – A Low German glossary renders ''conflictus'' with ''treffend''.^(DWB|21, 1654)

+ * 17th century – The military sense is at its most frequent.^(DWB|21, 1654)

+ * 18th century – The word names a line of troops in battle order.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * First half of the 20th century – The sense “meeting” appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020)

+ * Mid-20th century – The short form ''Treff'' is formed.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A planned [[m|en|meeting]], private or official: ''Das nächste Treffen der Arbeitsgruppe findet am Montag statt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(sports)'' A [[m|en|match]] or contest.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(military, dated)'' A smaller [[m|en|engagement]] or [[m|en|skirmish]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[treffen]]

+ * [[Treffer]]

+ * [[Treff]]

+ * [[Treffpunkt]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Etwas ins Treffen führen'' (elevated) is to put something forward as an argument for or against a thing.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}