Zofe

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German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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17th century, from East Central German dialects. Earlier already Zoffmagd (16th c.). Pertaining to a group of (probably interrelated) verbs zoffen, zaffen (to hesitate), zaufen (to step back, walk behind), Middle High German zāven (to pull, rear, groom). Which form exactly underlies seems uncertain; Middle High German -o-, -ou-, -ā- could all have become [oː] in the dialects in question. The further origin is entirely unknown.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈt͡soːfə/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: Zo‧fe

Noun

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Zofe f (genitive Zofe, plural Zofen, diminutive Zöfchen n)

  1. (historical) lady's maid (personal handmaid of a noblewoman)
    Synonym: Kammerjungfer

Declension

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Hypernyms

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Further reading

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  • Zofe” in Duden online
  • Zofe” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache