Besucher German · revision 35231

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=16th century|origins=gem-pro *sōkijaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈzuːxɐ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Besucher''' ''m'' (genitive Besuchers, plural Besucher, feminine Besucherin)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|de|besuchen|-er]], an agent noun of the verb “to visit”.^(Wiktionary)^(Wiktionary DE) The verb is [[gmh|besuochen]], [[goh|bisuohhen]] (around 1000), from the prefix [[m|goh|bi-]] and [[m|goh|suohhen|t=to seek]], the ancestor of [[suchen]].^(Pfeifer 1993) An Old High German [[m|goh|bisuohhāri|t=tempter]] is recorded once, in Notker's glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ That verb in turn goes back to [[gem-pro|*sōkijaną|t=to seek]], also found in [[got|𐍃𐍉𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=sōkjan]], [[non|sœkja]], [[ang|sēcan]], [[en|seek]], [[osx|sōkian]] and [[nl|zoeken]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kroonen 2013) It is related by ablaut to the strong verb [[got|𐍃𐌰𐌺𐌰𐌽|tr=sakan|t=to dispute]], [[goh|sahhan]], the source of [[Sache]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kroonen 2013) Kroonen notes that it looks like a causative but is probably not one, given the e-grade of its Greek and Latin cognates and its sense, and he reconstructs [[ine-pro|*seh₂g-|t=to seek, track down]].^(Kroonen 2013)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the 16th century ''Besucher'' meant an inspector or examiner, someone who carries out an investigation by virtue of an office.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(FWB) The Grimms still give the sense “searcher”, illustrating it with men who came on board and searched a ship for merchandise.^(DWB|1, 1689)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “guest, visitor” followed in the 17th century,^(Pfeifer 1993) as ''besuchen'' itself moved from “examine, inspect, attack” to “call on someone”.^(Pfeifer 1993) The noun ''Besuch'' “visit” is recorded from the 17th century and in the sense “guest(s)” from the 18th.^(Pfeifer 1993) Duden records the older use as “overseer, examiner”.^(Duden GWDS 1999) In modern use the word also covers anyone who goes somewhere for a purpose, such as the audience of a theatre or an exhibition, and by extension the visitors of a website.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Around 1000 – Old High German ''bisuohhen'' “to examine, test, ask” appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 2nd quarter of the 11th century – ''bisuohhāri'' “tempter” is recorded in Notker's glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 16th century – ''Besucher'' “inspector, examiner”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 17th century – ''Besucher'' “guest, visitor”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|visitor]], someone who calls on another person: ''Am Abend kam noch ein später Besucher.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Someone who goes to a place or event; an attendee, a [[m|en|patron]]: ''die Besucher des Konzerts''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A visitor of a website.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(software)'' The visitor design [[m|en|pattern]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Besucherbereich]]

+ * [[Besucherzimmer]]

+ * [[Blütenbesucher]]

+ * [[Kinobesucher]]

+ * [[Stammbesucher]]

+ * [[Besucherin]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[besuchen]]

+ * [[Besuch]]

+ * [[suchen]]

+ * [[en|seek]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}