Geschäft German · revision 35506

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=12th century|origins=gmw-pro *skapōn}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɡəˈʃɛft/, [ɡəˈʃɛːft], /ɡeˈʃɛft/^(Wiktionary)

+ * Germany: [ɡəˈʃeːft]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Austria: [ɡ̥e-]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Geschäft''' ''n'' (genitive Geschäftes or Geschäfts, plural Geschäfte, diminutive Geschäftchen n or Geschäftlein n)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|geschefte]], also [[m|gmh|gescheft]] and [[m|gmh|gescheffede]], an abstract noun formed from the weak verb [[schaffen]] “to work, do”.^(Kluge 2011|352)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014) Kluge sees two formations behind it, which merged: a ti-abstract meaning “creation, creature”, as in [[got|𐌲𐌰𐍃𐌺𐌰𐍆𐍄𐍃|tr=gaskafts]], [[ang|gesceaft]] and [[goh|giscaft]], and a derivative in [[m|goh|-ida]].^(Kluge 2011|352) Wiktionary derives it directly from the Old High German noun and [[gmw-pro|*gaskafti|t=creation]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The weak verb is [[m|goh|scaffōn|t=to arrange, order]], from [[m|gmw-pro|*skapōn]], beside the strong [[m|goh|skepfen|t=to create]].^(Kluge 2011|792)^(Wiktionary) Kluge notes that the strong and weak verb often cannot be told apart.^(Kluge 2011|792)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Middle High German ''gescheffede'' and ''geschefte'' are recorded from the 12th century, meaning “occupation, work, matter”, and also “order, command”, “last will” and “agreement, contract”.^(Kluge 2011|352)^(Duden 7 2014)^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Pfeifer explains the word as meaning properly “what is to be done”, a task or activity.^(Pfeifer 1993) The older sense “creation, creature” was still used by Luther: ''die gescheffte deiner hende'' “the works of thy hands” (Psalm 92:5).^(DWB|5, 3814) In Upper German it meant a command and a last will, the latter already in the Schwabenspiegel.^(Adelung 1793|2, 602)

+

+ Only in New High German did ''Geschäft'' become an important word of trade.^(Duden 7 2014) Paul traces its use for public affairs in the 18th century (''Staatsgeschäfte''), for the practice of a profession and of trade since Early New High German, and in the 19th century for a business deal, the profit made by it and the firm itself; the sense “shop” followed in the later 19th century.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) Since the 18th century it has also been a euphemism for relieving oneself.^(Paul 2002) Derivatives include [[geschäftig]] (early 14th century), [[geschäftlich]] (15th century according to Pfeifer, the 16th according to Duden), [[Geschäftsträger]] (18th century, after French ''chargé d'affaires'') and [[Geschäftsmann]] (about 1800, a loan translation of ''homme d'affaires'').^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The word was borrowed into Hungarian as ''seft'' (1832), and into Polish (''geszeft'', 1880) and Russian with the sense “shady deal, swindle”.^(LWP)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 12th century – Middle High German ''gescheffede, geschefte''.^(Kluge 2011|352)

+ * Early 14th century – First record of ''geschäftig''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 15th century – First record of ''geschäftlich''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – ''Geschäftsträger'' renders French ''chargé d'affaires''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2014)

+ * c. 1800 – ''Geschäftsmann'' as a loan translation of ''homme d'affaires''.^(Duden 7 2014)

+ * 1819 – ''Geschäftsordnung'' as a parliamentary term.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1832 – Hungarian ''seft'' is first recorded.^(LWP)

+ * Later 19th century – The sense “shop” appears.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|deal]], commercial [[m|en|transaction]]: ''Geschäft ist Geschäft'' “business is business”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Business, trade, sales: ''Das Geschäft läuft schlecht.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|profit]] from a deal: ''ein gutes Geschäft machen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # A [[m|en|firm]], company.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|shop]], store.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A task, matter to be dealt with.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # ''(colloquial, euphemistic)'' The act of relieving oneself.^(Wiktionary DE)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[geschäftig]]

+ * [[Geschäftigkeit]]

+ * [[geschäftlich]]

+ * [[Geschäftsmann]]

+ * [[Geschäftsträger]]

+ * [[Geschäftsordnung]]

+ * [[Geschäftsführer]]

+ * [[Gschaftlhuber]]

+ * [[Fachgeschäft]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[schaffen]]

+ * [[Schaffner]]

+ * [[Geschöpf]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}