versuchen German · revision 35088

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1150, Speculum ecclesiae|origins=gem-pro *sōkijaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fɛɐ̯ˈzuːxən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''versuchen''' (third-person singular present versucht, past tense versuchte, past participle versucht, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|versuochen|t=to try to find out, test]], formed [[af|de|ver-|suchen]].^(Duden 7 2020|839)^(Paul 2002)^(Wiktionary) The prefix gives the verb a frequentative force, especially with an object.^(DWB|25, 1830) The same formation is [[osx|forsōkian]], [[dum|versoeken]] and [[nl|verzoeken]], and [[da|forsøge]] and [[sv|försöka]] were borrowed from German.^(DWB|25, 1830)^(Wiktionary)

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+ The simple verb [[suchen]] goes back to [[gem-pro|*sōkijaną|t=to seek]], the same verb as [[got|𐍃𐍉𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=sōkjan]] and [[en|seek]].^(Kluge 2011|897)^(Kroonen 2013)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Middle High German ''versuochen'' is recorded from about 1150, in the ''Speculum ecclesiae'', and then in the ''Nibelungenlied'', Walther von der Vogelweide and many other texts.^(Köbler MHD) It meant “to try to learn or know”, “to inquire into, test, put to the proof”, “to try to obtain or do”, “to lead into temptation”, and also “to visit”: Walther speaks of a ''versuochteʒ swert'', a sword that has been tested.^(Lexer 1872|3, 259) The Grimms' dictionary finds no Old High German verb, only a noun ''firsuoh'' “testing” in a gloss, while Adelung quotes ''firsuachen'' from Otfrid.^(DWB|25, 1830)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the sense “to try to find out” came the idea of testing, with things as the object: one can ''versuchen'' food and drink (taste them), a remedy, one's luck or one's strength.^(Paul 2002) With ''zu'' and an infinitive it came to mean “to attempt to do something”.^(Paul 2002) With a person as object it belongs mainly to the language of the Bible, where God tests Abraham and Satan tempts Christ, and since the devil aims at evil the verb came close to “to seduce”, as in ''versucht sein'' “to be tempted”.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The senses “to visit” and “to request” were mainly Low German and are now obsolete.^(DWB|25, 1830)^(Adelung 1793)

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+ The noun [[Versuch]] meant a hostile attack until the 19th century, a scientific experiment from Paracelsus on, and in the 18th century also an essay.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) [[Versuchung]] took on its religious sense in the 17th century, as in the Lord's Prayer: ''und führe uns nicht in Versuchung''.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1150 – Middle High German ''versuochen'' appears in the ''Speculum ecclesiae''.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * c. 1200 – Walther von der Vogelweide speaks of a tested sword.^(Lexer 1872|3, 259)

+ * 16th century – ''Versuch'' is used for a scientific experiment.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 17th century – ''Versuchung'' takes on its religious meaning.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 18th century – ''Versuch'' renders “essay”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|try]] or [[m|en|attempt]] to do something difficult or uncertain: ''Sie versuchte, den letzten Bus noch zu erreichen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To find out by trying: ''Versuch mal, ob das Fenster aufgeht.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To [[m|en|taste]], try food or drink: ''Möchtest du die Suppe versuchen?''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To try one's hand at something new to one: ''Er versucht sich als Töpfer.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(formal)'' To test, try out.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(biblical)'' To put to the test, and to [[m|en|tempt]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(now rare)'' To examine.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Versuch]]

+ * [[Versuchung]]

+ * [[Versucher]]

+ * [[versucht]]

+ * [[unversucht]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[besuchen]]

+ * [[ersuchen]]

+ * [[suchen]]

+ * [[untersuchen]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Fixed phrases include ''sein Glück versuchen'' “to try one's luck” and ''nichts unversucht lassen'' “to leave nothing untried”.^(Paul 2002)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}