High German
Americannoun
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the group of West Germanic languages that in a.d. c400–c500 underwent the second consonant shift described by Grimm's law. HG, H.G.
noun
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HG. the standard German language, historically developed from the form of West Germanic spoken in S Germany See also German Low German
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any of the German dialects of S Germany, Austria, or Switzerland
Etymology
Origin of High German
First recorded in 1700–10
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Old Dutch there was "fader"; in Old Icelandic we find "faðir"; in Old High German, a precursor to modern German, it was "fater" – now "vater"; and, finally, in Old Danish, "fathær."
From Salon • Jun. 18, 2022
She noted that while places like German Switzerland also practice diglossia, the use of two languages, the difference is that both Swiss German and High German are living, spoken languages.
From The New Yorker • Apr. 10, 2017
Delve a little deeper and you also find the German term for “decoration,” from the Middle High German “smucken,” meaning “to press into.”
From New York Times • May 3, 2010
The "English" world is non-Amish society; among themselves most Amish speak the German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch, and in religious services they use High German.
From Time Magazine Archive
Liuzi, a High German form from liud, people, and I think must have come to us through the Normans.
From Surnames as a Science by Ferguson, Robert
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.