erheblich German · revision 35973

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1521, Mainz court order|origins=ine-pro *kap-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''erheblich''' (strong nominative masculine singular erheblicher, not comparable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|de|erheben|-lich]] in the 16th century, from the verb in the sense “to carry through, establish”, so that it first meant “feasible, attainable”.^(Kluge 2011|254)^(Wiktionary) In the language of lawyers and chanceries it then served to render [[la|relevāns|t=relevant]], literally “heavy enough to lift the other scale of the balance”, and that legal use passed into the general language.^(Kluge 2011|254)^(DWB2|8, 1810) The verb [[erheben]], [[gmh|erheben]], [[goh|irheffen]], is a prefixed form of [[heben]], Old High German [[m|goh|heffen]], from [[gem-pro|*hafjaną]], also in [[got|𐌷𐌰𐍆𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=hafjan]], [[ang|hebban]] and [[non|hefja]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(EWA|4, 877) It belongs with [[haben]] and with [[la|capiō|t=to take, seize]] and [[grc|κάπτω|tr=káptō|t=to snap up, gulp down]] to the root [[ine-pro|*kap-|t=to grasp]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The revised Grimms' dictionary first finds the word in a Mainz court order of 1521, of legal exceptions ''so fer sy erheblich vnd zuͦlessig weren'', “in so far as they were justified and admissible”.^(DWB2|8, 1810) Johann von Schwarzenberg used it in the sense “possible, feasible”.^(DWB|3, 846)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In legal and official language the adjective went with words for causes and reasons, ''erhebliche Ursachen'', ''erhebliche Gründe'', meaning “valid, legally relevant”, as in an excuse no longer ''erheblich'' in 1580 and a guild rule of 1604.^(DWB2|8, 1810) Weckherlin's ''erhöblich'' meant “worthy of praise”.^(DWB|3, 846) From “weighty” the word came to mean “considerable, large”, its common sense today, while law keeps the older “relevant”, as in the facts ''erheblich'' for a lawsuit (1902).^(DWB|3, 846)^(DWB2|8, 1810)^(Duden GWDS 1999) Its opposite [[unerheblich]] means “irrelevant, insignificant”.^(DWB|3, 846)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1521 – First record, in a Mainz court order.^(DWB2|8, 1810)

+ * 1580 – Schweinichen writes that he had no ''erhebliche Entschuldigung'' left.^(DWB2|8, 1810)

+ * 1604 – A Frankfurt guild rule speaks of ''erhebliche und rechtmäßige Ursachen''.^(DWB2|8, 1810)

+ * 1902 – Kohler writes of facts ''erheblich'' for a lawsuit.^(DWB2|8, 1810)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|considerable]], [[m|en|significant]], of real weight: ''Die Reparatur verursachte erhebliche Kosten.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' Relevant, legally significant: ''rechtlich erhebliche Tatsachen''.^(DWB2|8, 1810)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|considerably]]: ''Der neue Zug ist erheblich schneller.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unerheblich]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[erheben]]

+ * [[heben]]

+ * [[erhaben]]

+ * [[relevant]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}