angesichts German · revision 35836

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=after 1527}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈʔanɡəzɪçts/^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''angesichts'''^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|de|Angesicht|-s]], the genitive of the noun used as a preposition.^(Wiktionary DE)^(DWB2|2, 973)^(Wiktionary) Kluge notes that it keeps what was probably the noun's original meaning, “looking, sight”, since [[Angesicht]], [[gmh|angesiht]], [[osx|angisiht]], was first an abstract noun from [[ansehen]] and only later took on the sense “face” under the influence of [[Gesicht]].^(Kluge 2011|45) Pfeifer gives the oldest form as [[goh|anagisiht]];^(Pfeifer 1993) Gesicht itself is [[m|goh|gisiht]], [[gmw-pro|*ga-sehti-]], an abstract noun from [[sehen]].^(Pfeifer 1993) Paul credits Luther with turning the genitive into the preposition.^(Paul 2002)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The earliest examples come from the Peasants' War: a letter written after 1527 asks the recipients to come ''angesichts dis briefs'', as soon as they have read this letter.^(DWB2|2, 973) Luther wrote in 1533 that he had hoped the Elector would do everything ''angesichts seiner schrifft'', on seeing his letter.^(DWB2|2, 973)^(DWB|1, 351)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th century the word meant “at the sight of, on receipt of”, and a record of 1557 adds the sense “in the presence of, before the eyes of”.^(DWB2|2, 973) It was also an adverb, “at once, immediately”, used by Opitz and still by Goethe.^(Paul 2002)^(FWB)^(DWB|1, 351) Adelung (1793) found it unusual in High German in both senses.^(Adelung 1793) The modern meaning, “in view of, considering”, grew out of the sense “before the eyes of”, and the word belongs today to formal language.^(FWB)^(Duden GWDS 1999) When no genitive is marked it is followed by ''von''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * After 1527 – First record, in a letter of the Peasants' War.^(DWB2|2, 973)

+ * 1533 – Luther uses it for “on seeing”.^(DWB2|2, 973)

+ * 1557 – First record of the sense “in the presence of”.^(DWB2|2, 973)

+ * 1793 – Adelung calls the word unusual in High German.^(Adelung 1793)

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+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # ''(formal)'' At the [[m|en|sight]] of, faced with: ''angesichts der hohen Wellen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(formal)'' In [[m|en|view]] of, [[m|en|considering]]: ''Angesichts der Kosten verzichtete die Stadt auf den Neubau.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ===Adverb===

+ # With ''von'': at the sight of, in view of: ''angesichts von so viel Lärm''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Angesicht]]

+ * [[Gesicht]]

+ * [[ansehen]]

+ * [[sehen]]

+ * [[Ansicht]]

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}