An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/ab

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An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, A
by Friedrich Kluge, translated by John Francis Davis

ab

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This annotated version expands the abbreviations in the original entry ab.

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2518663An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, A — abJohn Francis DavisFriedrich Kluge

ab, adverb, also a preposition in older Modern High German (hence the modern abhanden, literally ‘from the hands,’ as well as Swiss patronymics like Ab der Fluh, Ab der Hald), ‘off, away from,’ from Middle High German abe, ab, preposition, ‘down from, away from, off,’ adverb, ‘down,’ Old High German aba, preposition, ‘away from, down from here,’ adverb, ‘down.’ Corresponding to Gothic af (ab), preposition, ‘down from there, from' (also adverb), Middle Dutch af, ave, Old Low German af, equivalent to Anglo-Saxon of, English of; originally cognate with Greek ἀπό, Sanscrit ápa, ‘away from.’ Of course phrases like ab Hamburg, do not contain the Old German preposition, but are due to incorrect Latinity; since the 17th century commercial language has adopted Latin expressions.