bezeichnen German · revision 35154

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=9th century|origins=gem-pro *taikną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈtsaɪ̯çnən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bezeichnen''' (third-person singular present bezeichnet, past tense bezeichnete, past participle bezeichnet, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|bezeichenen]], [[inh|goh|bizeihhanen]] (also [[m|goh|bizeihhanōn]]), a prefixed form of [[goh|zeihhanen|t=to mark, show]] (modern [[zeichnen]]) with [[m|goh|bi-]].^(DWB2|5, 149)^(Paul 2002)^(Köbler AHD) Wiktionary sets up [[gmw-pro|*bitaiknijan]].^(Wiktionary) The same formation is [[gml|betēikenen]], [[dum|betekenen]], [[nl|betekenen|t=to mean]] and [[ofs|betēknia]];^(DWB2|5, 149)^(Wiktionary) [[en|betoken]] is formed the same way.^(DWB2|5, 149)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The simple verb is [[got|𐍄𐌰𐌹𐌺𐌽𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=taiknjan|t=to show]], [[non|teikna]], [[ang|tǣcnan]], derived from the noun [[Zeichen]], [[gem-pro|*taikną|t=sign]], which is also [[en|token]].^(Kluge 2011|1004)^(Pfeifer 1993) Kluge traces that noun to a root [[ine-pro|*dei-|t=to shine, appear]], starting from “appearance”, while Köbler and Duden connect it with the root of [[zeihen]], “to point out”.^(Kluge 2011|1004)^(Köbler MHD)^(Duden 7 2020|946)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''bizeihhanen'' is recorded from the 9th century in Köbler, and in the glosses of the 11th century in DWB2, which quotes ''pretendit'' glossed as ''pizeihnit''.^(Köbler AHD)^(DWB2|5, 149) It meant “to mean, signify, mark with a sign”.^(Köbler AHD)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle High German the verb meant above all “to stand for, symbolise”: Williram (about 1060) explains that the women in the Song of Songs ''bezêichenet'' the good souls.^(DWB2|5, 149) Religious writers kept this use for centuries.^(DWB2|5, 149) Luther wrote ''Alle zeichen geringer sind denn das ding, so sie bezeichnen'' (“every sign is less than the thing it stands for”).^(Paul 2002)

+

+ From “to mark with a sign” the verb went on to mean “to describe, point out” (Schiller: ''Den Weg des Siegs bezeichne du dem Heer'', “show the army the way to victory”), and since Campe (1801) “to characterise”.^(Paul 2002) The commonest modern use, “to call, name”, especially ''jemanden als … bezeichnen'', grew out of “to give a designation to”.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999) Its derivative ''bezeichnend'' means “typical, telling”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 9th century – Old High German ''bizeihhanen'' is recorded.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 11th century – ''pizeihnit'' glosses Latin ''pretendit''.^(DWB2|5, 149)

+ * c. 1060 – Williram uses ''bezêichenen'' for “to symbolise”.^(DWB2|5, 149)

+ * 1801 – Campe records the sense “to characterise”.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|mark]] with a sign so that it can be recognised: ''Der Pfad ist mit roten Punkten bezeichnet.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # To indicate or describe exactly: ''den Ort des Unfalls genau bezeichnen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To [[m|en|call]], name: ''Diese Felsformation bezeichnet man als Kar.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a word, to [[m|en|denote]]: ''Das Wort „Fohlen“ bezeichnet ein junges Pferd.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To describe someone or something as: ''Er bezeichnete den Vorschlag als unrealistisch.'' Reflexive ''sich als … bezeichnen'', to call oneself.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Bezeichnung]]

+ * [[bezeichnend]]

+ * [[Bezeichner]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aufzeichnen]]

+ * [[abzeichnen]]

+ * [[kennzeichnen]]

+ * [[verzeichnen]]

+ * [[zeichnen]]

+ * [[Zeichen]]

+ * [[en|betoken]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}