zentral German · revision 36203

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1626, as zentralisch|origins=grc κεντέω}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /t͡sɛnˈtʁaːl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''zentral''' (strong nominative masculine singular zentraler, comparative zentraler, superlative am zentralsten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|de|Zentrum|-al]] after the model of [[la|centrālis|t=situated in the middle]].^(Wiktionary)^(Duden 7 2007)^(Pfeifer 1993) Pfeifer and the Deutsches Fremdwörterbuch also compare the older [[fr|central]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB) The noun was borrowed in Middle High German, first as [[m|gmh|zenter]], from [[la|centrum|t=fixed point of a pair of compasses, centre of a circle]], from [[grc|κέντρον|tr=kéntron|t=goad, sting; point of compasses]], from [[m|grc|κεντέω|tr=kentéō|t=to prick]].^(Kluge 2011|1007)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) The image is the point of the compasses that stays fixed and marks the centre of the circle drawn round it.^(Kluge 2011|1007)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adjective appeared in the early 17th century in the form ''zentralisch'', first in geometry: a text of 1626 speaks of the “centralischen spitz”, the point of the compasses that stays at the centre.^(DFWB)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ For a long time the word lived only as the first part of compounds: ''Centralwesen'' (second half of the 17th century), ''Centralwinckel'' (first half of the 18th), ''Centralkraft'' and ''Centralposition'' (second half of the 18th).^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB) From the early 19th century it took the sense “chief, superior, directing” in politics and administration, as in ''Centraloberbehörde'' and later [[Zentralnervensystem]], and by the end of the century “important, decisive”, as in [[Zentralfigur]] (about 1900).^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB) As an adjective of its own, in front of nouns and as an adverb, ''zentral'' has been used since the middle of the 19th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007)^(DFWB)

+

+ From the adjective came [[Zentrale]] (second half of the 19th century); [[zentralisieren]] and [[Zentralisation]] were borrowed in the early 19th century from the French terms coined in 1794, in the wake of Napoleon's administrative reforms.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1626 – First record, as ''zentralisch'', in geometry.^(DFWB)

+ * 2nd half of the 17th century – ''Centralwesen'', the first compound.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * Early 19th century – The sense “chief, directing” appears in administrative compounds;^(Pfeifer 1993) ''zentralisieren'' is borrowed from French.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * Mid-19th century – ''zentral'' is used as an independent adjective and adverb.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * c. 1900 – ''Zentralfigur'' shows the sense “important, decisive”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Situated in the [[m|en|centre]]; centrally located: ''Das Hotel liegt sehr zentral''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Forming the centre or midpoint of something.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(DFWB)

+ # Of central importance, decisive, determining everything else: ''eine zentrale Frage dieser Studie''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Coming from or acting as a superior, directing [[m|en|authority]]: ''eine zentrale Verwaltung'', ''das zentrale Nervensystem''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(DFWB)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|centrally]]: in the centre, or from a central authority: ''Die Daten werden zentral gespeichert''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Zentrale]]

+ * [[zentralisieren]]

+ * [[Zentralismus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Zentrum]]

+ * [[konzentrieren]]

+ * [[Zentrifuge]]

+ * [[en|central]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}