übrigens German · revision 36147

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=late 17th century|origins=ine-pro *upér}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈyːbʁɪɡəns/, [ˈyːbʁɪɡŋ̩s], /ˈyːb(ə)ʁɪŋs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''übrigens'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|de|übrig|-ens]], the adverb of the adjective [[übrig]] “remaining, left over”, probably on the model of [[erstens]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)^(Kluge 2011|939) The adjective is [[gmh|überic]], [[m|gmh|überec]], beside [[gml|overich]] and [[dum|overich]], and was formed from [[über]] in the sense “beyond the measure”, then “left as a remainder”.^(Kluge 2011|939)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The preposition itself is [[gmh|über]], [[goh|ubar]] (the umlauted form continues the Old High German adverb [[m|goh|ubari]]), from [[gem-pro|*uber]].^(Kluge 2011|938)^(Pfeifer 1993) The same word is [[got|𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂|tr=ufar]], [[non|yfir]], [[ang|ofer]] and [[osx|oƀar]], and it continues [[ine-pro|*upér|t=over, above]], also found in [[sa|उपरि|tr=upári]], [[grc|ὑπέρ|tr=hupér]], [[la|super]] and [[sga|for]].^(Kluge 2011|938)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ ''Übrigens'' appears at the end of the 17th century in prose and in the language of trade, meaning “for the rest, otherwise”.^(DWB|23, 704)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary DE) Kramer's Italian dictionary of 1702 explains it with ''del resto'', and Ludwig's German–English dictionary of 1716 with “for the rest, besides”.^(DWB|23, 704)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 18th century ''übrigens'' meant “apart from that, as for the rest”: Lessing wrote ''ich bin herzlich müde, obschon übrigens gesund'' (“I am heartily tired, though otherwise well”).^(DWB|23, 704) Adelung explained it as “what remains to be said about it” and as “besides”, and the synonym dictionary of Maass and Eberhard set it apart from [[außerdem]]: ''übrigens'' adds what the preceding statement has left over.^(Adelung 1793)^(DWB|23, 704) The sense then faded, and the word came to be used as a loose connective, “by the way”, which is its main use today.^(DWB|23, 704)^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) The phrase ''im Übrigen'' “otherwise, besides” is older, from the 17th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) [[nl|overigens]], recorded in 1735, is listed among words modelled on German.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – The adjective ''übrig'' (Middle High German ''überic'') is recorded.^(Kluge 2011|939)

+ * 17th century – ''Im Übrigen'' “otherwise, besides” is in use.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * Late 17th century – ''Übrigens'' appears, meaning “for the rest”.^(DWB|23, 704)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1702 – Kramer's dictionary records it.^(DWB|23, 704)

+ * 1735 – Dutch ''overigens'' is recorded.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # By the [[m|en|way]], [[m|en|incidentally]]: introduces a remark made in passing: ''Übrigens, hast du schon gegessen?''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(dated)'' Apart from that, for the rest, [[m|en|otherwise]].^(Wiktionary)^(DWB|23, 704)^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[übrig]]

+ * [[über]]

+ * [[erübrigen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}