ruchbar

German

Etymology

'Ruchbar' (adj.) is derived from 'Ruf' [renown, reputation, literal meaning: 'call'], Middle High German 'Ruoft', with a change from 'f' to 'ch'.¹ Ultimately the selfsame root as '(Ge)-rücht' [rumor].

Unrelated but possibly influenced in form: 'ruchlos' [=reckless, wicked]. Likewise unrelated 'Ge-ruch' [reek, smell].

As parallel for the sound shift (from 'f' to 'ch'): 'shaft' (pit, adit) and German 'Schacht' of similar meaning.² German 'sanft' and 'sacht' are cognate forms of 'soft'.

"es wurde ruchbar" ['it became public knowledge', 'it was bruited about'] is always negative. It is also somewhat archaic. 'Berüchtigt' (adj.) is still common.

¹,²) E. Wasserzieher, "Woher - Ableitendes Wörterbuch", 18th Ed., 1974

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈʀuːχbaːɐ̯/
  • (file)

Adjective

ruchbar (not comparable)

  1. well-known, notorious

Declension

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