verantwortlich German · revision 35504

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=17th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * [fɛɐ̯ˈʔantvɔʁtlɪç]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''verantwortlich''' (strong nominative masculine singular verantwortlicher, comparative verantwortlicher, superlative am verantwortlichsten)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|de|verantworten|-lich]] in the 17th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007)^(Paul 2002) The verb is [[gmh|verantwürten]], first meaning “to answer” and especially “to defend oneself as the accused in court”, formed with [[ver-]] from [[m|gmh|antwürten|t=to answer]], the verb of [[Antwort]].^(Kluge 2011|950)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler MHD) The noun is a collective formed with an old prefix meaning “against” from [[Wort]], so it was originally a “counter-word”; compare [[goh|antwurti]] and [[got|𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌳𐌹|tr=andawaurdi]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Schützeichel 2012|39)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ At first the adjective was passive, meaning “that can be justified or defended”; the Grimms think this sense is older than the active one, and Stieler gives it in 1691 as Latin ''responsabilis'' and ''defensibilis''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|25, 81) Adelung around 1800 still knows only this meaning and notes that the word is more common in the negative [[unverantwortlich]].^(Adelung 1793) The passive sense lives on in ''unverantwortlich'' “irresponsible, indefensible”, recorded from the middle of the 17th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)

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+ The active sense “bearing responsibility, having to answer for something” spread in the 18th century;^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|25, 81) Wieland writes of people who cannot be ''verantwortlich gemacht'' for the consequences of a revolt, and Heine of the editor who is ''verantwortlich'' for every article.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|25, 81) The derived noun ''Verantwortlichkeit'' is recorded by Adelung in the 18th century.^(Paul 2002)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 14th century – The verb ''verantworten'' is recorded, first in legal use.^(Kluge 2011|950)

+ * 2nd half of the 15th century – The noun ''Verantwortung'' appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 17th century – ''verantwortlich'' is formed, in the passive sense “justifiable”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+ * Mid-17th century – First record of ''unverantwortlich''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – The active sense “bearing responsibility” becomes established.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|responsible]] for something or someone, in charge of it: ''die verantwortliche Ärztin''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|answerable]] or [[m|en|accountable]] to someone: ''Der Minister ist dem Parlament verantwortlich.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To blame for something, being its cause;^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''jemanden für etwas verantwortlich machen'' is to hold someone responsible.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # Involving responsibility: ''eine verantwortliche Aufgabe''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unverantwortlich]]

+ * [[Verantwortlichkeit]]

+ * [[eigenverantwortlich]]

+ * [[mitverantwortlich]]

+ * [[Verantwortlicher]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[verantworten]]

+ * [[Verantwortung]]

+ * [[Antwort]]

+ * [[antworten]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}