übernehmen German · revision 35070

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1000, Notker|origins=gem-pro *nemaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˌʔyːbɐˈneːmən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''übernehmen''' (class 4 strong, third-person singular present übernimmt, past tense übernahm, past participle übernommen, past subjunctive übernähme, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|übernemen]], [[inh|goh|ubarneman|t=to overcome]], formed [[af|goh|ubar|neman|t1=over|t2=to take]], in today's terms [[über]] and [[nehmen]].^(Köbler AHD)^(Köbler MHD)^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE) The base verb is [[m|gem-pro|*nemaną|t=to take]], whose further connections are unclear.^(Kluge 2011|651)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''ubarneman'' appears in Notker, around 1000, meaning “to overcome”.^(Köbler AHD) Middle High German ''übernemen'', recorded from about 1230 in ''Diu Crône'', meant “to take too much, to presume, to get the upper hand”, also “to undertake” and, reflexively, “to take on too much”.^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 14th century the verb meant “to overpower”, said of a state of mind: Adelung records ''der Trunk hat ihn übernommen'' “drink overcame him”, and Kleist and Mörike still write of a feeling or longing that ''übernahm'' someone.^(Paul 2002) In the 18th century ''jemanden übernehmen'' could mean “to overcharge someone”, as in Lichtenberg.^(Paul 2002) The sense “to overstrain” is old too: reflexive ''sich übernehmen'' “to take on too much”, first of eating and drinking, dates from the 15th century and is still current.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The sense that dominates today, “to receive, take over, take upon oneself” (a property, goods, an office, a task, a duty), is not the oldest one: the Grimms' dictionary finds it only from the 17th century.^(DWB|23, 436)^(Paul 2002) It is the counterpart of [[übergeben]] “to hand over”, and the noun [[Übernahme]] belongs to it.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Notker uses ''ubarneman'' “to overcome”.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * c. 1230 – Middle High German ''übernemen'' in ''Diu Crône''.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 14th century – The sense “to overpower”, and the noun ''Übernahme''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 15th century – Reflexive ''sich übernehmen'', of eating and drinking.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 17th century – The sense “to take over, take on” is first recorded.^(DWB|23, 436)

+ * 18th century – ''jemanden übernehmen'' “to overcharge someone”, in Lichtenberg.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|receive]] what is handed over: ''die Schlüssel übernehmen''.^(Duden Universal 2007)

+ # To [[m|en|take over]] as a successor: ''sie übernahm die Bäckerei ihrer Mutter''.^(Duden Universal 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To accept a task or office and its duties: ''die Leitung des Projekts übernehmen''; also with ''die Kosten'', ''die Verantwortung'', ''die Haftung''.^(Duden Universal 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To take staff into one's service: ''die Belegschaft wurde vom Käufer übernommen''.^(Duden Universal 2007)

+ # To [[m|en|adopt]] something from someone else: ''eine Formulierung wörtlich übernehmen''.^(Duden Universal 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To [[m|en|overexert]] oneself, take on too much: ''er hat sich beim Umzug übernommen''.^(Duden Universal 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Austria, colloquial)'' To [[m|en|dupe]] someone.^(Duden Universal 2007)

+ # ''(dated)'' Of a feeling: to overcome someone.^(Duden Universal 2007)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Übernahme]]

+ * [[Übernehmer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nehmen]]

+ * [[über]]

+ * [[übergeben]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ These senses belong to the inseparable verb, stressed on ''-neh-'' (''übernahm'', ''übernommen''). A separable ''übernehmen'' (''nahm über'', ''übergenommen'') means colloquially “to sling over one's shoulder” and, at sea, “to ship water” or “to take on board”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Duden Universal 2007) The Grimms' dictionary also treats it as a separable verb.^(DWB|23, 436)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}