Vorzeichen
German
Etymology
In the sense “omen” from Middle High German vorzeichen, from Old High German forazeihhan, from Proto-Germanic *furaitaikną. Cognate with Old English foretācen (English foretoken). In the technical senses simply from vor- (“before, in front”) + Zeichen (“sign”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfoːrˌtsaɪ̯çən/, [ˈfoːɐ̯ˌt͡saɪ̯.çn̩], [ˈfɔɐ̯-]
Audio: (file)
Noun
Vorzeichen n (strong, genitive Vorzeichens, plural Vorzeichen)
- omen, presage
- Synonym: Omen
- (figuratively) early symptom, early sign
- (mathematics) sign (plus or minus)
- (music) signature, accidental (sign denoting key and tempo)
Declension
Declension of Vorzeichen [neuter, strong]
Derived terms
- Vorzeichenfehler
Further reading
- “Vorzeichen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “Vorzeichen” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
- “Vorzeichen” in Duden online