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): /ˈfoːɐ̯ˌtsaɪ̯çən/

• Audio:

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Noun

Vorzeichen n (genitive Vorzeichens, plural Vorzeichen)

1. omen; presage
2. (figuratively) early symptom; early sign
3. (mathematics) sign (plus or minus)
4. (music) signature; accidental (sign denoting key and tempo)

Synonyms

• (omen): Omen
• (symptom): Frühzeichen; (frühes) Anzeichen; (frühes) Symptom

Derived terms

• Vorzeichenfehler

Further reading

• “Vorzeichen” in Duden online