bestätigen German · revision 35134

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=13th century, Middle High German|origins=goh stāti}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈʃtɛːtɪɡən/, [bəˈʃtɛːtɪɡŋ̍]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Colloquial: /bəˈʃteːtɪɡən/, [bəˈʃteːtɪɡŋ̍]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bestätigen''' (third-person singular present bestätigt, past tense bestätigte, past participle bestätigt, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|bestætigen|t=to make firm, confirm]], formed with the prefix [[be-]] from the adjective [[m|gmh|stætec|t=firm, constant]], today's [[stetig]].^(Kluge 2011|115)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020) Kluge allows that it may instead be derived from [[m|gmh|bestætec]].^(Kluge 2011|115) It took the place of an older verb [[m|gmh|bestæten]], formed from [[m|gmh|stæte|t=firm, steady]], modern [[stet]].^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) Old High German had the unprefixed [[m|goh|stātigōn|t=to fix, make firm]].^(Duden 7 2020)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ The adjectives go back to [[goh|stāti]].^(Kluge 2011|883) Kluge connects them ultimately with [[stehen]], although the vowel does not fit well.^(Kluge 2011|115)^(Kluge 2011|883)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Kluge dates the verb to the 13th century,^(Kluge 2011|115) but Köbler lists it already for the Middle High German Genesis (1060–1080).^(Köbler MHD) In Middle High German it meant “to make firm, confirm”, and also “to arrest, take in”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Until the 19th century the verb often kept the sense of its base, “to make lasting, steady”:^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) a book printed at Augsburg in 1483 says that the hot oven makes the potter's vessels firm,^(Adelung 1793) and Luther wrote that the Lord would establish David's throne for ever.^(Adelung 1793) Wieland used it of strengthening a resolve and Goethe of the weather becoming settled.^(Paul 2002) Hunters say that they ''bestätigen'' game when they make sure, with a tracking dog, that it is in a place before the hunt.^(DWB|1, 1656)^(Paul 2002) In the 16th century the verb was also used for “to bury”, under the influence of [[bestatten]].^(DWB|1, 1656)

+

+ The modern senses are “to make legally valid by assent”, as with a law, a contract or an election, and “to show to be true by evidence”, as a witness confirms a statement.^(Paul 2002) Adelung (1793) already called the physical sense obsolete in High German.^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1060–1080 – Köbler lists the verb for the Middle High German Genesis.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 13th century – Kluge's date for the first record.^(Kluge 2011|115)

+ * 1483 – A book printed at Augsburg uses it of firing pottery.^(Adelung 1793)

+ * 16th century – Luther and others use it for “to bury”.^(DWB|1, 1656)

+ * 1793 – Adelung marks the senses “to make firm, lasting” as obsolete.^(Adelung 1793)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|confirm]], declare to be correct: ''Die Firma bestätigte den Termin per E-Mail.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To bear out, [[m|en|corroborate]]: ''Die Messungen bestätigen die Theorie.'' Reflexive, to prove true: ''Die Befürchtung hat sich leider bestätigt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(sport)'' To prove again, live up to: ''Sie bestätigte ihre gute Form mit einem Sieg.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(commerce)'' To [[m|en|acknowledge]] receipt of something: ''den Eingang der Zahlung bestätigen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To confirm someone in an office: ''Der Rat bestätigte sie als Vorsitzende.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+ # ''(hunting)'' To establish that game is present in an area: ''einen Keiler bestätigen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(DWB|1, 1656)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Bestätigung]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stet]]

+ * [[stetig]]

+ * [[stehen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}