Beitrag

Forms

Beitrag m (genitive Beitrages or Beitrags, plural Beiträge)^[1]

Etymology

It is a noun formed on the stem of the verb beitragen “to contribute”,^[1][2][3] itself inherited from Middle High German bītragen, formed from German bei- + tragen.^[4][5] Its counterpart is Dutch bijdrage.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The noun is found in Early New High German in the senses “(financial) contribution, levy” and figuratively “contribution, share, collaboration”.^[7] The Revised Grimm dictionary's first dated record is from Harsdörffer in 1646, of a contribution to a conversation from which a joint work is to grow; one from before 1683 in Lohenstein concerns a contribution to the costs of war.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The money sense led to the regular dues of a member and, later, to social insurance contributions.^[3] The Grimms noted that Beitrag was gentler than Beisteuer, which was given only to the needy, and that it was also used for contributions to a joint work, to science and to periodicals.^[6] The usual verb with it was first Beitrag tun, and since the 19th century einen Beitrag leisten.^[5] Many scholarly series are called Beiträge, for instance the Beiträge zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache und Literatur founded in 1874, known after its editors as “Paul and Braune's Beiträge”.^[5] The sense extends to a piece in a radio or television programme and, in internet use, to a post.^[3][1]

Timeline

• Around 1200 – Middle High German bītragen “to carry near” is used by Wolfram.^[4]
• 1646 – Harsdörffer uses Beitrag for a contribution to a joint work.^[3]
• Before 1683 – Lohenstein writes of a Beitrag to the costs of war.^[3]
• 1797 – Kant writes of supporting the poor by regular Beiträge.^[3]
• 19th century – einen Beitrag leisten replaces Beitrag tun.^[5]
• 1874 – The Beiträge zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache und Literatur begin.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. dues, a fee: an amount paid, usually regularly, to a club, organisation or insurance.^[8][1]
2. A contribution, one's share in bringing something about; with zu: ein wichtiger Beitrag zum Umweltschutz.^[8][1]
3. An article in a newspaper, journal or collective volume; a self-contained item in a radio or television programme.^[8][1]
4. (Internet) A post in a forum or on social media.^[1]

Related words

• beitragen
• tragen
• Ertrag
• Vortrag

Usage notes

Einen Beitrag leisten “to make a contribution” is the usual phrase today.^[5][8]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Wiktionary, das freie Wörterbuch (German Wiktionary), de.wiktionary.org
3. ^ a b c d e f g Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob Grimm und Wilhelm Grimm, Neubearbeitung (1965–2018), ed. Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, 9 vols. (A–F), Leipzig / Stuttgart: Hirzel, p. 4, 839
4. ^ a b Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob Grimm und Wilhelm Grimm, Neubearbeitung (1965–2018), ed. Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, 9 vols. (A–F), Leipzig / Stuttgart: Hirzel, p. 4, 840
5. ^ a b c d e f Paul, Hermann (2002), Deutsches Wörterbuch: Bedeutungsgeschichte und Aufbau unseres Wortschatzes, 10th ed., ed. Helmut Henne, Heidrun Kämper and Georg Objartel, Tübingen: Niemeyer
6. ^ a b Grimm, Jacob; Grimm, Wilhelm (1854–1961), Deutsches Wörterbuch, 16 vols. in 32, Leipzig: Hirzel; digital: Wörterbuchnetz, Trier Center for Digital Humanities, p. 1, 1405
7. ^ Anderson, Robert R.; Goebel, Ulrich; Reichmann, Oskar, eds. (1989–), Frühneuhochdeutsches Wörterbuch, Berlin / New York: De Gruyter; FWB-online, fwb-online.de
8. ^ a b c d Duden. Das große Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache in zehn Bänden (1999), 3rd ed., Mannheim: Dudenverlag