zabernism, n.

zabernism
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zabernism_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1986; not fully revised

# † zabernismnoun

## Earlier version

- zabernism in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zabernism mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zabernism. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the 1920s.

#### Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

### How is the noun zabernism pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzabənɪz(ə)m/

### Where does the noun zabernism come from?

Earliest known use

1910s

The earliest known use of the noun zabernism is in the 1910s.

OED's earliest evidence for zabernism is from 1916, in the Daily News (London).

From a proper name, combined with an English element.

Etymons: proper name Zabern, ‑ism suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. 78, n. 1949–
2. 800 number, n. 1971–
3. 900 number, n. 1977–
4. 911, n. 1968–
5. 999, n. 1937–
6. Z, n. Old English–
7. 'Z, adj.
8. za, n. 1968–
9. zaatar, n. 1917–
10. zabaglione, n. 1899–
11. zabernism, n.1916–21
12. zabernize, v. 1914
13. zabra, n. 1523–
14. zabuton, n. 1879–
15. zac, n. 1898–
16. 'zackly | 'zactly, adv. 1886–
17. zad, n. 1669–
18. Zadokite, n. & adj. 1910–
19. zadruga, n. 1887–
20. zaffre | zaffer, n. 1662–
21. zaftig, adj. 1921–

## Etymology

### Summary

From a proper name, combined with an English element.
Etymons: proper name Zabern, ‑ism suffix.
< Zabern, German name of the village of Saverne in Alsace + ‑ism suffix.

## Meaning & use

Obsolete.

1. 1916–21
   The misuse of military power or authority; bullying, aggression (see quot. 1921).
   1. 1916

      > There can rarely..have been a better example of the insolence of Zabernism than the ‘rounding up’ of crowds of unoffending people at the stations.

      Daily News 6 September 4
   2. 1918

      > The acquisitive commercialists and financiers of Germany—the Zabernism of industry and l.s.d.—were up to the eyes in it [sc. the war].

      19th Century December 992
   3. 1918

      > Both countries have been slaves to Kruppism and Zabernism.

      H. G. Wells, In Fourth Year iii. 36
   4. 1920

      > The advance of the Government troops into the Ruhr district, coupled with a marked exhibition of ‘Zabernism’, has stiffened the Spartacist resistance.

      Glasgow Herald 7 April 8
   5. 1921

      > Zabernism (hist.), military jackbootery. From an incident at Saverne (Ger. Zabern) in Alsace (1912), when an excited Ger. subaltern cut down a lame cobbler who smiled at him.

      E. Weekley, Etymological Dictionary of Modern English 1658/2
   military
   1. jackboot 1768–
      figurative and in figurative contexts, as a symbol of military oppression, authoritarian rule, or (more generally) bullying tactics or intimidation.
   2. zabernism 1916–21
      The misuse of military power or authority; bullying, aggression (see quot. 1921).
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzabənɪz(ə)m/

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

zabernism, n. was first published in 1986; not fully revised.

zabernism, n. was last modified in December 2024.