Strengthening Modifiers of Adjectives and Adverbs in Middle High German

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Excerpt from Strengthening Modifiers of Adjectives and Adverbs in Middle High German: A Dissertation Presented to the Board of University Studies of the Johns Hopkins University for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy In the German language Of all periods, there has been a class of words, usually the most common adverbs, which in addition to their usual Office have assumed the special function of serving as strengtheners of adjectives and other adverbs. This special function may amount in some cases to an entirely new use of the word, from which the original meaning or color has been wholly obliterated. Compare for example Modern German sehr, or Middle High German oil. In others, some trace Of the original force of the words may be retained, as in Mod. Germ. Gar or recht, mhg harte. TO this class Of words in general the term strengthening modifier, or strengthening particle may be applied. All such usage is in origin metaphorical. A word standing for a definite adverbial notion is applied to an adjective or an adverb for the purpose of emphasizing the quality which it expresses, in other words, the attribute of one class of ideas is asserted of another. If it is applied often enough, so that we forget that the strengthening word has any special significance Of its own, the figure loses its force, or color, and the result is a faded metaphor. Strengthening particles then, as applied to the words they modify, are examples of faded metaphors. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.