erkennen German · revision 35262

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=790/802, Old High German Benedictine Rule}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɛɐ̯ˈkɛnən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''erkennen''' (irregular weak, third-person singular present erkennt, past tense erkannte, past participle erkannt, past subjunctive erkennte, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|erkennen]], [[inh|goh|irkennen]] (also [[m|goh|arkennen]]), formed [[af|de|er-|kennen]].^(Kluge 2011|255)^(Wiktionary)^(Pfeifer 1993) The prefix originally marked the beginning of the action, “to come to know”, but often merely strengthened the verb.^(Kluge 2011|255)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch) [[gml|erkennen]] and [[nl|erkennen]] match it, though the Grimms thought the Dutch verb was borrowed from German, as were [[sv|erkänna]] and [[da|erkende]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|3, 866) Compare [[got|𐌿𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌽𐌽𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=uskannjan|t=to make known]] and [[ang|ācennan|t=to bring forth, give birth]].^(DWB|3, 866)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''irkennen'' is recorded from the late 8th century: the Benedictine Rule (790/802) and Otfrid (863/71), who speaks of the wise men ''thie irkantun sunnun fart'' “who knew the course of the sun”.^(DWB2|8, 1858)^(Köbler AHD) It meant “to perceive, notice, understand, come to know”, and also “to make known”.^(Schützeichel 2012|174)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the language of the law ''erkennen'' has meant “to decide, pass judgment” since the 13th century (''das Gericht erkannte auf Freispruch''), and to this use belong [[aberkennen]], [[zuerkennen]] and [[anerkennen]], the last probably formed in the 16th century after Latin ''agnoscere''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014|257) Followed by ''als'', the verb often meant what ''anerkennen'' now expresses, “to acknowledge”.^(Kluge 2011|255) The sense “to be grateful for” survives in [[erkenntlich]] (''sich erkenntlich zeigen''), which has had it since the 17th century.^(Kluge 2011|255)^(Pfeifer 1993) In banking ''für einen Betrag erkennen'' means “to credit”.^(Kluge 2011|255)

+

+ The biblical ''ein Weib erkennen'' “to have intercourse with a woman” is a loan meaning from Latin ''cognoscere'' and Greek ''gignṓskō'', which follow the Hebrew text.^(Kluge 2011|255)^(Duden 7 2014|257) The noun [[Erkenntnis]] wavered between feminine and neuter until the 18th century, when the neuter was kept for a judicial decision.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014|257) Schiller's ''Daran erkenn' ich meine Pappenheimer'' (''Wallensteins Tod'') became a familiar quotation.^(Paul 2002) Dutch ''erkennen'' “to admit” is recorded from 1376–1400.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 790/802 – Old High German ''erchennen'' in the Benedictine Rule.^(DWB2|8, 1858)

+ * 863/71 – Otfrid uses ''irkennen''.^(DWB2|8, 1858)

+ * 13th century – the legal sense “to pass judgment”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014|257)

+ * 1376–1400 – Dutch ''erkennen'' is recorded.^(LWP)

+ * 16th century – ''anerkennen'' is formed.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014|257)

+ * 17th century – ''erkenntlich'' “grateful”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – the neuter ''Erkenntnis'' “judicial decision” is distinguished.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014|257)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make out, see clearly: ''Im Nebel konnte man die Insel kaum erkennen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|recognize]], identify by certain features: ''Ich habe dich an deinem Lachen erkannt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|realize]], see the true nature of: ''Er erkannte zu spät, dass er sich geirrt hatte.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(literary, dated)'' To know carnally, have intercourse with.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(law)'' To pass judgment, decide: ''Das Gericht erkannte auf eine Geldstrafe.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ # ''(sport)'' Of a referee, to rule: ''auf Elfmeter erkennen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(banking)'' To [[m|en|credit]] (an account with a sum).^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Kluge 2011|255)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To get one's bearings.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To acknowledge formally, as [[anerkennen]] now does.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[anerkennen]]

+ * [[aberkennen]]

+ * [[zuerkennen]]

+ * [[wiedererkennen]]

+ * [[erkenntlich]]

+ * [[Erkenntnis]]

+ * [[erkennbar]]

+ * [[Erkennung]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[kennen]]

+ * [[Urkunde]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Erkenne dich selbst!'' renders the inscription of the temple of Apollo at Delphi, Greek ''gnōthi seautón''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}