lösen German · revision 35437

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 8th century, Old High German glosses|origins=gem-pro *lausaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * [ˈløːzn̩], /ˈløːsɛn/, [ˈløːsn̩]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Germany: [ˈløːzən]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Austria, Southern-Germany, Switzerland: [ˈløːz̥n̩]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lösen''' (third-person singular present löst, past tense löste, past participle gelöst, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|lœsen]], [[inh|goh|lōsen]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*lausijan]], [[inh|gem-pro|*lausijaną|t=to make loose, set free]], derived from the adjective [[los]] “loose, free”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|520)^(Wiktionary)^(Kluge 2011|584) The same verb is [[got|𐌻𐌰𐌿𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=lausjan]], [[non|leysa]], [[ang|līesan]], [[ofs|lēsa]] and [[osx|lōsian]].^(Kluge 2011|584)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kroonen 2013)

+

+ The adjective, [[gem-pro|*lausaz]], is in turn derived from a verb meaning “to lose, loosen”, which survives in German only in the prefixed [[verlieren]].^(Kluge 2011|584)^(Kroonen 2013) Köbler traces the family to [[ine-pro|*lewH-|t=to cut, separate, loosen]].^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''lōsen'' is recorded from the end of the 8th century in glosses and then in Tatian, Otfrid, Notker and the ''Muspilli''; it meant “to loosen, untie”, “to free, deliver (from)”, “to ransom” and “to pay”.^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|206) The prefixed ''irlōsen'' “to redeem” and its agent noun ''irlōsāri'' “redeemer” are also of the 8th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle High German ''lœsen'' meant “to loosen, free, redeem, buy back, pay”.^(Pfeifer 1993) Luther uses it of freeing prisoners (''der Herr löset die Gefangenen'') and of redeeming a pledge or a firstborn animal, a use now taken over by [[einlösen]] and [[erlösen]].^(Paul 2002)^(DWB|12, 1190) From redeeming something sold or pledged came “to get money by selling”, the source of [[Erlös]] (early 18th century).^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) The phrase ''eine Fahrkarte lösen'' “to buy a ticket” is recorded by Sanders.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ Other senses grew from “to make loose”: to annul a contract or engagement, to solve a riddle or a doubt, to dissolve salt in water, and formerly to fire a gun (Lessing: ''ich lösete das Pistol'').^(Paul 2002)^(Duden 7 2020|520) Hunters say of game that it ''löst sich'', relieves itself.^(Adelung 1793)^(Wiktionary DE) The chemical sense of [[Lösung]] was shortened from ''Auflösung'' in the 19th century.^(Duden 7 2020|520)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * End of the 8th century – Old High German ''lōsen'' in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 8th century – ''irlōsen'' “to redeem” and ''irlōsāri'' “redeemer”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 9th century – ''lōsunga'' “redemption”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * Early 18th century – ''Erlös'' “proceeds”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 19th century – ''Lösung'' as a chemical term.^(Duden 7 2020|520)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|detach]], remove, take off: ''ein Etikett von der Flasche lösen'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''(reflexive)'' to come off, come loose; to break away, free oneself.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|loosen]]: ''den Gürtel lösen'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''(reflexive)'' to become loose.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|solve]], resolve: ''eine Gleichung lösen'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''(reflexive)'' to resolve itself.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To annul, [[m|en|dissolve]] (a contract, a relationship).^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To dissolve in a liquid;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''(reflexive)'' to dissolve.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(formal)'' To fire (a shot); ''(reflexive)'' to go off by accident.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To buy (a ticket).^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(dated, regional)'' To bring in as [[m|en|proceeds]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ablösen]]

+ * [[auflösen]]

+ * [[auslösen]]

+ * [[einlösen]]

+ * [[erlösen]]

+ * [[Erlös]]

+ * [[Erlöser]]

+ * [[Lösung]]

+ * [[Lösegeld]]

+ * [[löslich]]

+ * [[lösbar]]

+ * [[loslösen]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[los]]

+ * [[verlieren]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Jemandem die Zunge lösen'' is to make someone talkative; it once meant literally to cut the band under a child's tongue so it could move freely.^(Adelung 1793)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}