Schluss German · revision 36170

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1375}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * [ʃlʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Schluss''' ''m'' (genitive Schlusses, plural Schlüsse)^(Wiktionary)

+ Older spelling: ''Schluß''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|sluz|t=end; knot]], formed with ablaut to the verb [[schließen]], like [[gml|slūt]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary)^(Paul 2002) The verb is [[gmh|sliezen]], [[goh|sliozan]], which Kluge compares with [[la|claudō|t=to close]] and [[m|la|clāvis|t=key, bolt]], so that “to close” first meant “to put a bolt on”.^(Kluge 2011|811) The same formation is [[nl|slot]], and [[en|slot]] is related.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Late Middle High German ''sluz'' is recorded about 1375, rarely, meaning “closing end” and “knot”;^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler MHD) Köbler finds it in Suchenwirt, in the second half of the 14th century.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In older legal language the word was widespread for “resolution, decision, decree” from the 16th century, and as late as the 18th century it could stand for [[Beschluss]] or [[Entschluss]], as in Schiller's ''sie haben ihren letzten Schluß gefaßt in Wien'' “they have taken their final decision in Vienna”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) Today this survives in [[Ratschluss]].^(Paul 2002) In philosophy it took the sense “inference, conclusion” in the 17th century, where Old High German had used ''sloz'' and Early New High German ''Sloßrede'';^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) Kant defined a ''Schluss'' as the derivation of one judgement from another.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The temporal sense “end, final part” dates from the 17th century and is now the main one, as in ''Schluss der Debatte'' and the call ''Schluss!''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) Adelung also records it for the place where two parts join, as in scissors or a shell, and in riding for a firm grip of the rider's thighs.^(Adelung 1793) The phrase ''Schluss machen'' means “to stop work”, “to end a relationship” and also “to take one's own life”.^(Paul 2002) Czech and Slovak ''šlus'' and Hungarian ''slussz'' are loans from German.^(Wiktionary)^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1375 – Late Middle High German ''sluz'' is first recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 16th century – The legal sense “decision, decree” spreads.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 17th century – The senses “logical conclusion” and “end” appear.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – ''Schluss'' for “decision” is still usual in Schiller and Goethe.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|end]], the point at which something stops; the last stage: ''Zum Schluss bedankte sie sich bei allen Helfern.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) In ''Schluss machen'': to stop work; to break up with someone.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+ # The final part of something, as of a book, a speech or a piece of music.^(Paul 2002)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # A logical [[m|en|conclusion]], an [[m|en|inference]]: ''aus den Zahlen einen Schluss ziehen''.^(Wiktionary)^(Paul 2002)

+ # A closing, a tight fit; in electrical engineering a contact, a short circuit.^(Wiktionary DE)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Schlussfolgerung]]

+ * [[schlüssig]]

+ * [[Schlusslicht]]

+ * [[Schlusspunkt]]

+ * [[Schlussstrich]]

+ * [[Schlusswort]]

+ * [[Kurzschluss]]

+ * [[Trugschluss]]

+ * [[Rückschluss]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Abschluss]]

+ * [[Anschluss]]

+ * [[Aufschluss]]

+ * [[Ausschluss]]

+ * [[Beschluss]]

+ * [[Einschluss]]

+ * [[Entschluss]]

+ * [[Fehlschluss]]

+ * [[Ratschluss]]

+ * [[schließen]]

+ * [[Schloss]]

+ * [[Schlüssel]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}