Verkehr German · revision 36074

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=first half of the 18th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fɛrˈkeːr/, [fɛʁˈkeːʁ], [fɛɐ̯ˈkeːɐ̯]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Verkehr''' ''m'' (genitive Verkehres or Verkehrs, plural Verkehre)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a noun formed from the verb [[verkehren]], first in the sense “trade, exchange of goods”.^(Kluge 2011|953)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary DE) The verb is [[inh|gmh|verkēren|t=to turn round, transform, distort]], formed from [[ver-]] and [[kehren]] “to turn”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007)^(Köbler MHD) The sense “to deal with one another”, on which the noun rests, comes from Low German use: [[gml|vorkēren]] developed from “to change, exchange” the senses “to sell one's wares, put money into circulation, trade”, as did older Dutch [[m|nl|verkeren]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) Kluge suggests that the simple verb expresses the mutual turning, the give and take, of the exchange.^(Kluge 2011|953)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun appears in the first half of the 18th century meaning trade, the turnover and sale of goods.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary DE) Frisch's dictionary notes that ''Verkehr'' was used by some for Latin ''commercium'', and for Adelung ''es ist vieler Verkehr an einem Orte'' meant that many goods were sold there.^(DWB|25, 625)^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the second half of the 18th century it widened to social intercourse, contact and dealings with people;^(Pfeifer 1993) Adelung (1793) gives ''Verkehr mit jemanden haben'' “to have dealings with someone”.^(Adelung 1793) Kant used it both of commerce and of exchange in general.^(DWB|25, 625) The gender long wavered: Bürger, Herder, Kant, Knigge and Iffland made it neuter, Goethe used both genders, and the masculine prevailed.^(DWB|25, 625)^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ The sense now foremost, the movement of vehicles, people, goods and messages along routes, arose in the second half of the 19th century, with compounds such as [[Straßenverkehr]], ''Schienenverkehr'' and ''Verkehrsampel''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) As a euphemism ''Verkehr'' also stands for [[Geschlechtsverkehr]] “sexual intercourse”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) The phrase ''etwas aus dem Verkehr ziehen'' means to take something out of use, and ''in Verkehr bringen'' to put it into circulation.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * First half of the 18th century – ''Verkehr'' “trade, sale of goods”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ * Second half of the 18th century – “Social intercourse, dealings”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1793 – Adelung records both senses.^(Adelung 1793)

+ * Second half of the 19th century – “Traffic, transport”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|traffic]]; the movement and transport of vehicles, people, goods and messages: ''Am Freitagabend ist auf der Autobahn viel Verkehr.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Contact, social [[m|en|intercourse]], dealings with someone: ''Sie hat keinen Verkehr mehr mit ihren alten Nachbarn.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(euphemistic)'' Sexual intercourse, short for [[Geschlechtsverkehr]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The exchange of goods, services, money or securities: ''der Zahlungsverkehr''.^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Straßenverkehr]]

+ * [[Geschlechtsverkehr]]

+ * [[Verkehrsampel]]

+ * [[Verkehrsunfall]]

+ * [[Verkehrsmittel]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[verkehren]]

+ * [[verkehrt]]

+ * [[kehren]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}