Zofe

German

Alternative forms
  • Zaufe, Zoffe, Zohfe, Zoofe, Zove (obsolete)

Etymology

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

Noun

Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)

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

Declension

Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)

Hypernyms

Further reading
  • “Zofe” in Duden online
  • “Zofe” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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