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Eifer. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Eifer, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Eifer in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
Eifer you have here. The definition of the word
Eifer will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
Eifer, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
German
Etymology
From Middle High German *īver (“jealousy”). The simplex is first attested in 1494 as yfer, but in 1349 the derivative eifrær (in a southern text that already reflects diphthongisation, thus equivalent to a classical *īverære). An Upper German dialect word, which was chosen by Luther to express the idea of Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos). From the German then Dutch ijver, Middle Low German īver, and further Danish iver etc.
Further origin unknown. Perhaps an ablaut variant of Old High German eibar, eivar (“sharp, bitter”), from Proto-Germanic *aibraz, whence also Old English āfor.
Pronunciation
Noun
Eifer m (strong, genitive Eifers, no plural)
- zeal, eagerness, alacrity
Declension
Derived terms
Further reading
- “Eifer” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “Eifer” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
- “Eifer” in Duden online