leisten German · revision 35300

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=early 9th century, Old High German|origins=gem-pro *laistiz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈlaɪ̯stn̩/, [ˈlaɪ̯stən]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''leisten''' (third-person singular present leistet, past tense leistete, past participle geleistet, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|leisten]], [[inh|goh|leisten]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*laistijan]], [[inh|gem-pro|*laistijaną|t=to follow]].^(Kluge 2011|571)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) The same verb is [[osx|lēstian]], [[got|𐌻𐌰𐌹𐍃𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=laistjan|t=to follow]], [[ang|lǣstan|t=to follow, perform, endure]] and [[ofs|lāsta]], and it continues in [[en|last|t=to endure]].^(Kluge 2011|571)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Orel 2003|233)

+

+ The verb is formed from a Germanic noun meaning “track, footprint”, [[gem-pro|*laistiz]], which survives in [[Leisten]], the shoemaker's last, and in [[got|𐌻𐌰𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃|tr=laists|t=track, goal]], [[ang|lāst|t=footprint]] and [[non|leistr|t=sock, foot]].^(Kluge 2011|571)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kroonen 2013)^(Duden 7 2020|507) Its first sense was therefore “to follow a track”, and the modern sense grew out of “to follow a command”.^(Kluge 2011|571)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

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+ Pfeifer and Duden trace the family to a root [[ine-pro|*leis-|t=track, furrow]], also behind [[Gleis]], [[lehren]], [[lernen]] and [[List]],^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|507) while Köbler marks the connection with Pokorny's root as uncertain.^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''leisten'' is first recorded at the beginning of the 9th century, in the Old Bavarian prayer, and then in Otfrid, Notker and Williram, meaning “to carry out, fulfil, keep (a promise), show”.^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|196)^(EWA|5, 1148) The Strasbourg Oaths already use the past participle ''geleistit'' of keeping an oath.^(DWB|12, 722)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Gothic and partly in Old English the verb still had the concrete sense “to follow, accompany”, while in Old Saxon, Old High German and Middle High German it meant doing what is owed or prescribed.^(DWB|12, 722) Middle High German used it for keeping a commitment, as in ''einen tac leisten'' “to attend an assembly” and ''gîselschaft leisten'' “to ride in as a hostage”,^(EWA|5, 1148) and in the law of debt for the obligation to stay at an inn as a hostage until a debt was paid.^(Lexer 1872|1, 1870) Early New High German added paying a debt or a fine and performing a service.^(FWB)

+

+ Paul notes that the verb came to be used where there was no obligation, as in ''jemandem Gesellschaft leisten'', and that the idea of ability came to the fore, as in praise of what someone achieves in music or politics.^(Paul 2002) With a noun it became a light verb: ''Hilfe leisten'' “to help”, ''Widerstand leisten'' “to resist”.^(EWA|5, 1148)^(Pfeifer 1993) The colloquial ''sich etwas leisten'' “to afford, treat oneself to” arose in the second half of the 19th century, at first ironically and probably in student slang.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)

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+ The noun [[Leistung]], late Middle High German ''leistunge'' “undertaking an obligation”, has meant “the result of work” since Zwingli.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 9th century – Old High German ''leisten'' appears in the Old Bavarian prayer.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 1060–1065 – Middle High German ''leisten'' is used by Williram.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 16th century – The noun ''Leistung'' is recorded in the sense “achievement”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1846 – First record of ''leistungsfähig'' “efficient, capable”.^(Paul 2002)

+ * Second half of the 19th century – ''sich etwas leisten'' “to afford” arises in colloquial use.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|achieve]] or [[m|en|accomplish]]: ''Die junge Mannschaft hat in dieser Saison Großes geleistet.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To do or carry out (work): ''Sie hat diesen Monat zwölf Überstunden geleistet.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Of a machine, to produce a certain output: ''Die Pumpe leistet zwei Kilowatt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # As a light verb with a noun, to give or render: ''Hilfe leisten'' “to help”, ''Widerstand leisten'' “to resist”, ''einen Eid leisten'' “to swear an oath”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ # ''(colloquial, with reflexive dative)'' To treat oneself to, [[m|en|afford]]: ''Nach der Prüfung leisten wir uns ein Abendessen im Restaurant.'' ''Sich etwas leisten können'' is to have the money for it.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(colloquial, with reflexive dative)'' To allow oneself something impudent or improper.^(Wiktionary DE)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Leistung]]

+ * [[leistungsfähig]]

+ * [[gewährleisten]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Leisten]]

+ * [[Gleis]]

+ * [[lehren]]

+ * [[lernen]]

+ * [[List]]

+ * [[en|last]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The proverb ''Schuster, bleib bei deinem Leisten'' “cobbler, stick to your last” belongs to the noun [[Leisten]], as does ''alles über einen Leisten schlagen'' “to treat everything alike”, recorded in 1625.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}