gering

Etymology

From Middle Dutch gering, from Proto-Germanic *ga- + *reng-ja, of obscure origin. Probably not related to wringen.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪŋ

Adjective

gering (comparative geringer, superlative geringst)

1. (quantity) little
2. (people or matters) insignificant, trivial

Etymology

From Middle High German geringe, from Old High German giringi, ringi (“low, plain, simple, light, easy”), from Proto-Germanic *ringwaz (“small, light, quick”), of uncertain origin, though possibly from Proto-Indo-European *wrengʷʰ- (“to squeeze, wring”) and cognate with Proto-Germanic *wringaną (“to squeeze, wring”), Ancient Greek ῥίμφα (rhímpha, “fast, quickly”). Cognate with Yiddish גרינג (gring, “light, easy”) (DWDS).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡəˈʁɪŋ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

gering (strong nominative masculine singular geringer, comparative geringer, superlative am geringsten)

1. little, low

   geringer Wert.

   low value.

   • 2010, Der Spiegel‎, number 30/2010, page 57:

     Zwar ist der Anteil der Frauen in Betriebsratsämtern mit knapp 25 Prozent noch vergleichsweise gering, aber er wächst.

     It is true that the portion of women in works council positions is still comparatively low with 25 percent, but it is growing.

Further reading

• “gering” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “gering” in Duden online
• “gering” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon

Etymology

Inherited from Malay gering (“sick”), from Javanese ꦒꦼꦫꦶꦁ (gering, “languishing, sickly; thin, emaciated; sick”), from Old Javanese gĕriṅ, griṅ (“illness, affliction”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡə.ˈrɪŋ/
• Rhymes: -rɪŋ
• Hyphenation: gê‧ring

Adjective

gering

1. (obsolete) sick

   Synonym: sakit

Further reading

• “gering” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Romanization

gering

1. Romanization of ꦒꦼꦫꦶꦁ

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡə.riŋ/
• Rhymes: -riŋ, -iŋ
• Hyphenation: ge‧ring

Adjective

gering (Jawi spelling ݢريڠ)

1. (royal) sick.