überraschen German · revision 36178

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=16th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˌyːbɐˈʁaʃn̩/, /ˌyːbɐˈʁaʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''überraschen''' (third-person singular present überrascht, past tense überraschte, past participle überrascht, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It was formed in the 16th century [[af|de|über-|rasch]], “to be quicker than someone, to fall upon someone quickly”.^(Kluge 2011|939)^(Duden 7 2020)^(Paul 2002) Middle Low German had a similar [[m|gml|vorraschen|t=to take by surprise]].^(Wiktionary) The base adjective is [[goh|rasco|t=quick]], from [[gem-pro|*raskaz|alt=*raska-]].^(Kluge 2011|746)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The verb first meant “to fall upon suddenly”, especially of an attack in war.^(Duden 7 2020)^(Paul 2002) The Grimms' oldest records are from Central German texts: in a report of 1560 the Duke of Brunswick follows a troop “to surprise them and beat them”.^(DWB|23, 454)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Paul thought the word originally Central and North German; the Grimms found it foreign to the Upper German dialects and noted that 16th- and 17th-century authors wavered between ''überhaschen'', ''überrasseln'', ''überrauschen'' and ''überraschen''.^(DWB|23, 454)^(Paul 2002) It was used more often from the 18th century, and the sense weakened from “attack unexpectedly” to “catch unprepared” (by a storm) and “astonish with something unexpected”, including pleasantly, with a present.^(Duden 7 2020)^(Paul 2002) [[Überraschung]] is recorded from 1673.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 16th century – First records, “to attack unexpectedly”.^(Kluge 2011|939)^(Duden 7 2020)

+ * 1560 – ''überraschen'' of a military raid.^(DWB|23, 454)

+ * 1673 – ''Überraschung'' is recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 18th century – The word becomes common, in the weakened sense “to astonish”.^(Duden 7 2020)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|surprise]], astonish by being or doing something unexpected: ''Sein Anruf hat mich überrascht.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To surprise with something pleasant: ''jemanden mit Blumen überraschen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To catch someone in the act: ''Der Dieb wurde in der Küche überrascht.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # Of weather, night or the like, to catch someone unprepared: ''Der Regen überraschte uns im Wald.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Überraschung]]

+ * [[überraschend]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rasch]]

+ * [[überrumpeln]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Lassen wir uns überraschen'' “let's wait and see” is a common set phrase.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}