Qualität German · revision 36120

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1519|origins=la quālis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˌkvaliˈtɛːt/, [ˌkʋaliˈtɛːt], /ˌkvaliˈteːt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Qualität''' ''f'' (genitive Qualität, plural Qualitäten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|quālitās|t=nature, property]], a derivative of [[m|la|quālis|t=of what kind]].^(Kluge 2011|736)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|663) Its use was partly influenced by [[fr|qualité]], and Wiktionary takes it partly from the French word.^(Duden 7 2020|663)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) In philosophy the Latin word rendered [[grc|ποιότης|tr=poiótēs]], one of Aristotle's basic forms of thought.^(DFWB) The same word is [[nl|kwaliteit]], [[en|quality]] and [[sv|kvalitet]].^(Kluge 2011|736)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Paul finds the word with Latin endings from the 15th century and as German ''qualiteten'' in 1519; the Deutsches Fremdwörterbuch also dates it to 1519, spelled ''qualitet'' from the early 16th century.^(Paul 2002)^(DFWB) It was first a term of medicine and of the doctrine of the four humours, for the primary qualities heat, cold, moisture and dryness.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(FWB)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From medicine and philosophy it spread to other trades and professions in the sense “nature, property”, often in contrast with [[Quantität]].^(Paul 2002)^(DFWB) In the 17th century it gained weight in merchants' language under French influence, for the good state of goods.^(Pfeifer 1993) Also under French influence it was used of people, mostly in the plural, for good qualities and abilities, as in Goethe's ''alle edlen Qualitäten''; from the 17th to the early 20th century it also meant rank or standing, as in ''Dame von Qualität'' (1663, Gryphius).^(Paul 2002) The Latin form lived on in technical use far into the 18th century, and only from about the middle of the 17th century did the German form become usual.^(DFWB) Prosody has used it since the 17th century, and recently it has become a favourite word of advertising and public life.^(DFWB)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 15th century – The word is used with Latin endings.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1519 – German ''qualiteten''.^(Paul 2002)^(DFWB)

+ * 17th century – A term of merchants' language under French influence.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1663 – ''Dame von Qualität'' “lady of rank” in Gryphius.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 19th century – The adjective ''qualitativ'' is formed.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(formal)'' The whole of the characteristic properties of a thing or person; nature.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(linguistics)'' The timbre of a sound, as opposed to its [[m|en|length]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(textiles)'' A material of a particular kind.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(formal)'' A characteristic property; mostly in the plural, a good [[m|en|quality]] of a person or thing: ''Sie hat viele Qualitäten.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # The standard or excellence of something: ''Diese Schuhe sind von guter Qualität.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Something of a particular quality, such as goods of a certain grade.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(chess)'' The difference in value between a [[m|en|rook]] and a bishop or knight.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[qualitativ]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[qualifizieren]]

+ * [[Qualifikation]]

+ * [[Quantität]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In chess, ''die Qualität gewinnen'' is to win a rook in exchange for a bishop or knight.^(Duden Fremdwörterbuch 2007)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}