Etymologically
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kezd

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Pronunciation

Forms

kezd[1]

Etymology

It is formed with the frequentative suffix -d from a stem that is not recorded on its own and whose origin is unknown.[2][3][4][5][1] The suffix is the one in mond, kérd and küzd.[2][3][5]

A derivation from kéz (“hand”), which Czuczor and Fogarasi proposed, meets difficulties of sound, form and meaning alike.[2][6] A Finno-Ugric comparison proposed in Budenz's dictionary is not accepted either.[7][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is the derivative kezdet “beginning” in the Königsberg Fragment, as keʒdetuitul “from its beginning”, which ÚESz dates to the early 13th century and TESz to about 1350.[3][2] The verb itself appears in the Jókai Codex (about 1448, copied from a text written after 1372): keejde … gondolny, “he began to think”.[2][3] The sense is “to begin, set about something”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

From the transitive “to begin” the other senses developed.[2][3] Already in the Jókai Codex the verb is an auxiliary with an infinitive, marking the start of an action.[2][3] With meg- it came to mean “to start using up, cut into”: a record of 1564 lists two started bolts of fine linen, kezdött patyolat.[9][2] The intransitive “to begin” is dated 1560 by ÚESz and 1813 by TESz; the -ik conjugation, kezdék (1717) and kezdik (1863), arose with the auxiliary use.[2][3]

The colloquial “to take up with someone, pick a quarrel with someone”, mostly with ki-, is recorded from 1792, and “to undertake a business” from 1835.[2][3][5] Szeged speech has mit kezdjek vele? “what am I to do with it?” and azon kezdem, hogy… “let me start by saying that…”.[10][11]

Timeline

  • early 13th century (TESz: about 1350) – keʒdetuitul “from its beginning” in the Königsberg Fragment.[3][2]
  • c. 1448 – keeʒde “he began” in the Jókai Codex (copy of a text written after 1372), and the auxiliary use.[2][3]
  • c. 1456 – kezdés “beginning”.[2][3]
  • 1536 – megkezd “to set about something”.[3]
  • 1650 – kezdődik “to begin” (intransitive).[8]
  • 1792 – “to pick a quarrel with someone, take up with someone”.[2][3]
  • 1835 – “to undertake a business”.[2][3]
  • 1853 – kezdetleges “primitive”, in Jósika.[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To begin, start something: új életet kezd.[12][1]
  2. With an infinitive, to begin to do something, or of a thing to begin to be: kezd sötétedni.[12]
  3. To take up again after a pause: Elölről kezdte.[12]
  4. To strike up a song or a dance.[12]
  5. To set about some work or venture.[12][2]
  6. With -val/-vel and mit or mihez, to do something with someone or something: Nem tudok mit kezdeni vele.[1][10]
  7. (colloquial) With -val/-vel, to take up with someone, pick a quarrel with someone.[5][11]

Word family

  • kezdemény
  • kezdet
  • kezdés
  • kezdődik

Usage notes

In kezdtem, kezdte the /d/ is often not pronounced.[6] The proverb aki kutyával kezd, bot legyen a kezében “who takes on a dog should have a stick in his hand” warns against quarrelling with a rude man unprepared.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Benkő, Loránd (ed.) (1967–1976), A magyar nyelv történeti-etimológiai szótára, 3 vols., Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, p. 2, 478
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Gerstner, Károly (ed.) (2006–), Új magyar etimológiai szótár, Budapest: Nyelvtudományi Kutatóközpont; online at uesz.nytud.hu
  4. ^ Benkő, Loránd (ed.) (1993–1997), Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Ungarischen, 3 vols., Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, p. 792
  5. ^ a b c d Zaicz, Gábor (ed.) (2006), Etimológiai szótár: magyar szavak és toldalékok eredete, Budapest: Tinta Könyvkiadó
  6. ^ a b Czuczor, Gergely; Fogarasi, János (1862–1874), A magyar nyelv szótára, 6 vols., Pest: Emich Gusztáv / Athenaeum
  7. ^ Budenz, József (1873–1881), Magyar–ugor összehasonlító szótár, Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, p. 28
  8. ^ a b Bárczi, Géza (1941), Magyar szófejtő szótár, Budapest: Királyi Magyar Egyetemi Nyomda, p. 95
  9. ^ Szamota, István; Zolnai, Gyula (1902–1906), Magyar oklevél-szótár, Budapest: Hornyánszky, p. 493
  10. ^ a b Bálint, Sándor (1957), Szegedi szótár, 2 vols., Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, p. 1, 739
  11. ^ a b c Csűry, Bálint (1935–1936), Szamosháti szótár, 2 vols., Budapest: Magyar Nyelvtudományi Társaság, p. 1, 490
  12. ^ a b c d e Bárczi, Géza; Országh, László (eds.) (1959–1962), A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára, 7 vols., Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online at ertelmezo.oszk.hu