Kleines mittelhochdeutsches Wörterbuch

The Small Middle High German Dictionary presents a new reference work for Middle High German texts for the first time since the publication of Matthias Lexer's pocket dictionary in 1879. It is designed as a tool for anyone who wants to read and understand Middle High German texts—primarily for students of Older German Studies, but also for scholars seeking quick access to the meaning of a Middle High German word. Since the dictionary aims to provide information on a vocabulary that spans different epochs and genres, texts from the period 1070–1450 have been included. The vocabulary presented is limited to texts that are relevant for academic instruction. A corpus bibliography makes the selection principle transparent. In line with its intended use, the new dictionary is structured as a meaning dictionary that avoids paraphrases. The modern German synonyms are based on a review of all citations in the context of the source material. They facilitate the understanding of every text passage documented in the corpus and can be used in a literal translation without presuming individual interpretation. As a tool for the reception of texts, the dictionary presents phonetics, gender, inflection, and syntax descriptively, following the text citations rather than normative criteria. Information on the valency of verbs allows for easier matching of the Middle High German word to its modern German equivalent.