klein
adj · /klaɪ̯n/ ·Etymology
Inherited from Middle High German klein, kleine, from Old High German kleini, from Proto-West Germanic *klainī (“shining, fine, splendid, tender”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *gleh₁y- (“to cleave, stick”). Cognate with Dutch klein and English clean. Doublet of clean. For a similar semantic development, cf. zierlich (orig. "decorative", today "petite").
Translation
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small, little, tiny, wee, small-scale
Hänschen klein / ging allein / in die weite Welt hinein. [nominative neuter]
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Frau Berta saß in der Felsenkluft, / Sie klagt ihr bitt'res Loos; Klein Roland spielt' in freier Luft; / Deß Klage war nicht groß. [nominative masculine]
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1781, J. H. Campe (editor), Kleine Kinderbibliothek, 6th small volume, Hamburg, p. 43 (substantival use)
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Laß beide uns fliehn zu dem Englein hin, / Damit du nicht werdest, was ich jetzt bin: // Eine arme Mutter, verlassen, allein, / Verstoßen, verhöhnt, mit dem Kindchen klein! [dative neuter]
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- little, young (in age)
- insignificant