besuchen German · revision 35366

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1000, Notker|origins=gem-pro *sōkijaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈzuːxn̩/, /bəˈzuːxən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''besuchen''' (third-person singular present besucht, past tense besuchte, past participle besucht, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|besuochen]], [[inh|goh|bisuohhen|t=to examine, try, inquire]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*bisōkijan]], formed [[af|de|be-|suchen]].^(Kluge 2011|115)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler AHD) The same formation is [[nl|bezoeken|t=to visit]], [[sv|besöka|t=to visit]] and [[en|beseech]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The verb [[suchen]] is [[gmh|suochen]], [[goh|suohhen]], [[gem-pro|*sōkijaną|t=to seek]], also in [[got|𐍃𐍉𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=sōkjan]], [[non|sœkja]] and [[ang|sēcan]].^(Kluge 2011|897)^(Kroonen 2013) Outside Germanic it is compared with [[la|sāgiō|t=to perceive keenly]], [[sga|saigid|t=seeks]], [[grc|ἡγέομαι|tr=hēgéomai|t=I lead]] and Hittite [[m|hit|šakk-|t=to know]], from the root [[ine-pro|*seh₂g-|t=to seek out]];^(Kluge 2011|897)^(Duden 7 2020|839)^(Kroonen 2013) Kluge and the Duden dictionary think it first described a hound picking up a scent.^(Kluge 2011|897)^(Duden 7 2020|839)^(Kroonen 2013)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''bisuohhen'' is first recorded in Notker, about 1000, and in Williram, meaning to examine, test, inquire, try, afflict and seek out.^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|322) The Duden dictionary notes that it was first a strengthened ''suchen'', used especially in legal language for “to investigate”.^(Duden 7 2020|839)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Already in Middle High German the verb was used in the present sense “to go to a place or a person”, with several specialisations, such as ''einen turnei besuochen'' “to attend a tournament”.^(Duden 7 2020|839)^(Paul 2002)^(Kluge 2011|115) After the Middle High German period it narrowed to visiting relatives and friends;^(Kluge 2011|115) Kluge dates this meaning to the 17th century.^(Kluge 2011|115) Until the 18th century it could still mean “to search, examine”, as in Luther's ''du prüfest mein Herz und besuchest es des Nachts''.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The noun [[Besuch]] was formed back from the older ''Besuchung'' in the 18th century and was used for French [[m|fr|visite]].^(Duden 7 2020|839)^(Paul 2002) Today one also visits a museum, a town or a concert, and a sales representative visits customers.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Notker uses Old High German ''bisuohhen'' “to examine”.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * Middle High German – ''besuochen'' is also used for going to a place or a person.^(Duden 7 2020|839)

+ * 17th century – The modern sense “to visit friends or relatives” becomes established.^(Kluge 2011|115)

+ * 18th century – The noun ''Besuch'' replaces ''Besuchung'' and renders French ''visite''.^(Duden 7 2020|839)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|visit]] someone and spend some time with them: ''Am Sonntag besuchen wir die Großeltern.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To call on someone for professional reasons: ''Die Ärztin besucht ihre Patienten zu Hause.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To go to a place for a purpose: ''ein Museum besuchen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|attend]] an event as a spectator or listener: ''Das Konzert war gut besucht.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To attend a school or other place of education: ''Sie besucht das Gymnasium.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Besuch]]

+ * [[Besucher]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[versuchen]]

+ * [[suchen]]

+ * [[heimsuchen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}