Deutsches Wörterbuch
Encyclopedia
Das Deutsche Wörterbuch / Deutsches Wörterbuch (DWB, The "German Dictionary" / "German Dictionary") is one of the most important dictionaries
of the German language
. It is for German what the Oxford English Dictionary
is for English, containing detailed historical information about the origin and use over time of German words, with examples taken from actual documents.
It was started by the Grimm brothers (known also for Grimm's Fairy Tales
) in 1838. In German the dictionary is also known as Der Grimm ("The Grimm [Dictionary]"). Finally completed in 1961, the dictionary contains 32 volumes and includes about 350,000 main entries. In 1971 a supplement with references was published, and work on a second edition is ongoing.
Initially the Grimm brothers expected the project to take ten years and produce 6-7 volumes. In fact, the first volume was not published until 1854. Wilhelm Grimm died in 1859, and Jacob in 1864, while working on the entry for "Frucht" (fruit). After their deaths multiple institutions were involved in the work, including the Prussian Academy of Sciences
and the Berlin Academy, with a center in Goettingen also involved.
Planning for the second edition began in 1957, four years before the first edition was finished. It was to be an international project involving both East and West Germany
. At present, the letters A-F are expected to be completed in 2012.
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
of the German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. It is for German what the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
is for English, containing detailed historical information about the origin and use over time of German words, with examples taken from actual documents.
It was started by the Grimm brothers (known also for Grimm's Fairy Tales
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Children's and Household Tales is a collection of German origin fairy tales first published in 1812 by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the Brothers Grimm. The collection is commonly known today as Grimms' Fairy Tales .-Composition:...
) in 1838. In German the dictionary is also known as Der Grimm ("The Grimm [Dictionary]"). Finally completed in 1961, the dictionary contains 32 volumes and includes about 350,000 main entries. In 1971 a supplement with references was published, and work on a second edition is ongoing.
Initially the Grimm brothers expected the project to take ten years and produce 6-7 volumes. In fact, the first volume was not published until 1854. Wilhelm Grimm died in 1859, and Jacob in 1864, while working on the entry for "Frucht" (fruit). After their deaths multiple institutions were involved in the work, including the Prussian Academy of Sciences
Prussian Academy of Sciences
The Prussian Academy of Sciences was an academy established in Berlin on 11 July 1700, four years after the Akademie der Künste or "Arts Academy", to which "Berlin Academy" may also refer.-Origins:...
and the Berlin Academy, with a center in Goettingen also involved.
Planning for the second edition began in 1957, four years before the first edition was finished. It was to be an international project involving both East and West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. At present, the letters A-F are expected to be completed in 2012.