Leistung German · revision 35157

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=late Middle High German|origins=gem-pro *laistaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈlaɪ̯stʊŋ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Leistung''' ''f'' (genitive Leistung, plural Leistungen)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|de|leisten|-ung]], first recorded as [[gmh|leistunge|t=taking on of an obligation]] at the end of the medieval period.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Kluge 2011|571)

+

+ The verb [[leisten]] goes back to [[gmh|leisten]], [[goh|leisten|t=to follow, fulfil]], [[gem-pro|*laistijaną|t=to follow]], which is also the source of [[got|𐌻𐌰𐌹𐍃𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=laistjan|t=to follow]], [[ang|lǣstan]] and [[ofs|lāsta]], and of the English verb [[m|en|last|t=to continue, endure]].^(Kluge 2011|571)^(Pfeifer 1993) It meant at first “to follow a track”, being derived from the noun that survives in [[Leisten]] “shoemaker's last”, [[gem-pro|*laistaz|t=track, footprint]], as in [[m|got|𐌻𐌰𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃|tr=laists|t=track]].^(Kluge 2011|571)^(Duden 7 2020|507)^(Wiktionary) Pfeifer and Duden trace this family, with [[lehren]], [[lernen]], [[List]] and [[Gleis]], to a root [[ine-pro|*leis-|t=track, furrow]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|507) The modern sense of the verb comes from “to obey a command”, hence “to carry out, fulfil”.^(Kluge 2011|571)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Late Middle High German ''leistunge'' meant the taking on of an obligation or a promise.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|12, 726) Early New High German texts use ''leistung'' for a surety, a penalty imposed on someone, and above all the ''Einlager'': the creditor's right to make a debtor or his guarantor stay at an inn, at his own cost, until the debt was paid.^(FWB)^(DWB|12, 726)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “the result of physical or mental work, an achievement” dates from the 16th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) The Grimms' dictionary arranges the senses after those of the verb: the fulfilling of a duty, the taking on of an obligation such as an oath or a surety, and the proof of an ability, as in musical or acting achievements.^(DWB|12, 726) In the 19th century came ''leistungsfähig'' “efficient, capable”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

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+ In physics ''Leistung'' is the [[m|en|power]] of a machine, the work done per unit of time, and in law and economics it is the service or payment owed under a contract.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE) The word was borrowed into Modern Hebrew as ''laistung'', for an efficient performance.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late Middle High German – ''leistunge'' “undertaking of an obligation”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 16th century – First record of the sense “achievement, result of work”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 19th century – The adjective ''leistungsfähig'' appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of performing or carrying out something.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # An [[m|en|achievement]], [[m|en|performance]]: work done and its result: ''eine starke Leistung der Mannschaft'' “a strong performance by the team”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # What a machine, an organ or a factory does or produces; [[m|en|output]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(physics)'' [[m|en|power|alt=Power]]: work done per unit of time, measured in watts.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law, economics)'' A [[m|en|service]] or payment owed, such as an insurance benefit; contractual performance.^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[leistungsfähig]]

+ * [[Leistungsgesellschaft]]

+ * [[Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[leisten]]

+ * [[Gleis]]

+ * [[en|last]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}