Initiative German · revision 36139

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1799, Wieland|origins=la eō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Germany: /init͡si̯aˈtiːvə/^(Wiktionary)

+ * Austria: /init͡si̯aˈtiːv̥ɛ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Initiative''' ''f'' (genitive Initiative, plural Initiativen)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|initiative|t=right to propose laws]], a term of French constitutional law that came up in the debates of the Revolution around 1790.^(Kluge 2011|445)^(Paul 2002)^(DFWB) Kluge dates the borrowing to the 19th century, while Pfeifer, Duden and the Deutsches Fremdwörterbuch place it in the 18th century, with the first German record in 1799.^(Kluge 2011|445)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|393)^(DFWB)

+

+ The French noun is a learned formation from [[m|fr|initier|t=to initiate, introduce, begin]], which continues [[la|initiō|t=to initiate into the mysteries; in Late Latin also to begin]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|445) That verb is formed from [[m|la|initium|t=entrance, beginning]], a noun of [[m|la|ineō|t=to go in, begin]], made of [[m|la|in-]] and [[m|la|eō|t=to go]].^(Kluge 2011|445)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)^(Duden 7 2020|393) The same borrowing is [[nl|initiatief]], [[en|initiative]] and [[sv|initiativ]].^(Kluge 2011|445)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first German records use the word in its political sense, the right to put forward a law: Wieland wrote in 1799 that the chamber of princes had the ''Initiative'' for general laws of the Empire, and Buchholz in 1808 and Görres in 1821 used it of the right of ministers to bring in bills.^(DFWB)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the early 19th century ''Initiative'' also meant the opening of a debate.^(Pfeifer 1993) From about 1830 it spread into general use as “the first impulse to an action”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) Heine wrote in 1834 that France deserved the glory of the ''Initiative'', and the phrase ''die Initiative ergreifen'' “to take the initiative”, modelled on French ''prendre l’initiative'', is recorded from 1839.^(DFWB)^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) From this came the sense “drive, readiness to act”, which Paul illustrates from Thomas Mann's ''Zauberberg''.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The constitutional sense still lives in Switzerland, where ''Initiative'' names a popular initiative, a demand by citizens for a vote on a law.^(Duden 7 2020|393)^(Paul 2002)^(Duden Fremdwörterbuch 2007) In late 20th-century West Germany the word became short for [[Bürgerinitiative]], a citizens' action group.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The new sense also influenced the older verb [[initiieren]], which at first meant “to initiate into a cult”, as Latin did, and now usually means “to set going”; the agent noun [[Initiator]] dates from about 1900.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1790 – French ''initiative'' arises in the debates of the Revolution.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1799 – Wieland uses ''Initiative'' of the right to propose imperial laws.^(DFWB)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1834 – Heine uses the word in a general sense.^(DFWB)

+ * 1839 – First record of ''die Initiative ergreifen'', in Gaudy.^(Paul 2002)

+ * c. 1900 – ''Initiator'' is formed after Late Latin ''initiātor''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * Late 20th century – ''Initiative'' becomes short for ''Bürgerinitiative''.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The first active step towards an action, the [[m|en|impulse]] that sets something going: ''die Initiative ergreifen'', to take the [[m|en|initiative]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(uncountable)'' [[m|en|drive]] and [[m|en|enterprise]], the ability to act on one's own: ''Ihr fehlt es nicht an Initiative.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden Fremdwörterbuch 2007)

+ # Short for [[Bürgerinitiative]]: a citizens' [[m|en|action group]], or any group formed to pursue a common aim.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(politics)'' The right to introduce a [[m|en|bill]] in a parliament.^(Duden Fremdwörterbuch 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Switzerland)'' A popular initiative, a petition by citizens forcing a vote on a proposal: [[Volksinitiative]].^(Duden Fremdwörterbuch 2007)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Bürgerinitiative]]

+ * [[Eigeninitiative]]

+ * [[Volksinitiative]]

+ * [[Initiator]]

+ * [[initiieren]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Initiation]]

+ * [[Initiale]]

+ * [[en|initiative]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}