gefährlich German · revision 36070

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Middle High German, Hartmann von Aue's Iwein|origins=ine-pro *per-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɡəˈfɛːɐ̯lɪç/, /-ˈfeːɐ̯-/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gefährlich''' (strong nominative masculine singular gefährlicher, comparative gefährlicher, superlative am gefährlichsten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|geværlich|t=treacherous, insidious]], formed [[af|de|Gefahr|-lich]].^(Kluge 2011|339)^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)^(Wiktionary) The older adjective was [[m|gmh|værlich]] (modern [[fährlich]]), while [[goh|fārlīhho|t=secretly, suddenly]] is only an adverb, beside [[ang|fǣrlīce|t=suddenly]]; the strengthened form with the prefix [[ge-]] is found once in Hartmann's Iwein, in a reading not certain for the poet, and spreads only from the 14th century.^(DWB|4, 2081)

+

+ [[Gefahr]] is [[gmh|gevāre|t=deceit, fraud]], a strengthened form of [[m|gmh|vāre]], [[goh|fāra|t=ambush, temptation, persecution]], [[osx|fār]], from [[gem-pro|*fērō|t=ambush, danger]].^(Kluge 2011|339)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler AHD) The same word is [[non|fár|t=enmity, deceit]] and [[ang|fǣr]], whence [[en|fear]]; compare [[got|𐍆𐌴𐍂𐌾𐌰|tr=fērja|t=spy]].^(Kluge 2011|339)^(Pfeifer 1993) It is a lengthened-grade noun of [[ine-pro|*per-|t=to try, risk]], found in [[la|perīculum|t=danger]], [[m|la|experior|t=to try, test]] and [[grc|πεῖρα|tr=peîra|t=trial, attempt]]; the meaning went from “treacherous attempt” through “ambush” to “threatening harm”.^(Kluge 2011|339)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Middle High German ''geværlich'' meant “treacherous, insidious”, and the Swabian law book uses ''geverlig'' for “deceitful”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Adelung 1793)^(DWB|4, 2081) The simple adjective ''værlich'' and the adverb ''vârlîche'' were long the more frequent forms; the ''Vocabularius incipiens teutonicum'' and a Nuremberg vocabulary of 1482 still lack ''gefärlich''.^(DWB|4, 2081)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “dangerous” followed that of [[Gefahr]], which changed from the plot or ambush laid for someone to the condition of the person threatened, and then to any threat, including the forces of nature.^(Paul 2002) Luther's Bible still often has the simple ''fährlich'', which was used now and then into the 19th century.^(Adelung 1793)^(Paul 2002) Adelung defines ''gefährlich'' as “bringing danger”, and records the colloquial intensive ''gefährlich groß'', ''gefährlich schön'' “extremely big, extremely beautiful”.^(Adelung 1793) The noun ''Gefährlichkeit'' is recorded from 1517.^(Paul 2002) Today the word is also used of a daring plan or game.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Middle High German – ''geværlich'' in Hartmann's ''Iwein''.^(DWB|4, 2081)

+ * 14th century – The forms with ''ge-'' come into use.^(DWB|4, 2081)

+ * 1482 – A Nuremberg vocabulary still lacks ''gefärlich''.^(DWB|4, 2081)

+ * 1517 – First record of ''Gefährlichkeit''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1793 – Adelung records ''gefährlich'' and the intensive ''gefährlich groß''.^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|dangerous]], [[m|en|hazardous]]; involving or causing danger: ''eine gefährliche Kreuzung'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''gefährlich krank'', seriously ill.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Requiring great caution, likely to do harm: ''ein gefährlicher Gegner''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Risky, daring: ''ein gefährliches Spiel''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Gefährlichkeit]]

+ * [[ungefährlich]]

+ * [[lebensgefährlich]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Gefahr]]

+ * [[gefährden]]

+ * [[ungefähr]]

+ * [[Experiment]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Das ist nicht so gefährlich'' is colloquial for “that doesn't matter much”.^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''Das gefährliche Alter'' is middle age, as a time of risk to health or, jokingly, of romantic adventures.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}