überzeugen German · revision 35646

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=13th century, legal texts|origins=gmh ziuc}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˌyːbəʁˈtsɔʏ̯ɡən/, [ˌʔyːbɐˈt͡sɔʏ̯ɡn̩], [ˌʔyːbɐˈtsɔʏ̯ɡŋ̩]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''überzeugen''' (third-person singular present überzeugt, past tense überzeugte, past participle überzeugt, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|überziugen|t=to testify against; to convict by witnesses]], formed [[af|gmh|über-|ziugen|t2=to testify]].^(Kluge 2011|939)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler MHD) The base verb is a derivative of the noun [[Zeuge]], Middle High German [[m|gmh|ziuc]] “evidence; witness”, beside which the oldest form is [[goh|giziugōn|t=to declare]].^(Kluge 2011|1008)^(Duden 7 2020|950) Kluge and Duden connect the noun with [[ziehen]], as “drawing someone before a court”, but Kluge adds that the details remain unclear.^(Kluge 2011|1008)^(Duden 7 2020|950)

+

+ The prefix is [[über]], in its sense “against, down upon”: the verb first meant to overcome a defendant in court by producing witnesses against him.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(DWB|23, 674) A few writers of the 16th and 17th centuries spelled it ⟨überzeigen⟩, by association with [[zeigen]].^(DWB|23, 674)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Middle High German ''überziugen'' is recorded from the 13th century as a legal term, “to convict with witnesses”, for instance in the Schwabenspiegel and the town laws of Upper Swabia: ''den mag man überziugen mit zwain erberen mannen'' “he may be convicted by two honest men”.^(DWB|23, 674)^(Köbler MHD)^(Kluge 2011|939)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the legal sense of proving a charge by witnesses or documents came, in theological writing from the 16th century, the sense of bringing someone by proofs to accept a belief, which became the usual one in the 18th century.^(Kluge 2011|939)^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) Luther still used the word for convicting: ''das macht seine eigene Bosheit, die ihn überzeugt und verdammt''.^(Paul 2002) The thing one is convinced of was at first put in the genitive, as often in Goethe (''eines Bessern überzeugen''), and ''sich von etwas überzeugen'' and ''überzeugt sein'' became common from the 18th century.^(Paul 2002) The noun [[Überzeugung]] meant “conviction of a defendant” in the 16th century, “proof” in the 17th and “firm belief” from the 18th.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) In the 20th century the verb also came to be used intransitively for performing convincingly, especially in sport.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Middle High German ''überziugen'' is a legal term for convicting by witnesses.^(Kluge 2011|939)^(DWB|23, 674)

+ * 16th century – The sense “to persuade by proofs” appears in theological writing.^(Kluge 2011|939)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 16th century – ''Überzeugung'' is recorded in the sense “conviction (of a defendant)”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 18th century – “To persuade, convince” becomes the usual sense, and ''Überzeugung'' comes to mean “firm belief”.^(Kluge 2011|939)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * c. 1815 – ''Überzeugungstreue'' “loyalty to one's convictions” is formed.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|convince]]: to bring someone by reasons or evidence to accept something as true or necessary, with ''von'': ''Sie hat mich von ihrem Plan überzeugt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To be convincing, to fully meet expectations: ''Die junge Torhüterin konnte im Finale überzeugen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To make sure of something by checking it oneself: ''Er überzeugte sich, dass die Tür abgeschlossen war.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Überzeugung]]

+ * [[überzeugend]]

+ * [[überzeugt]]

+ * [[Überzeugungstäter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Zeuge]]

+ * [[bezeugen]]

+ * [[Zeugnis]]

+ * [[überführen]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The past participle ''überzeugt'' is used as an adjective, “convinced, firm in one's belief”: ''eine überzeugte Europäerin'';^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''von sich überzeugt sein'' means to be conceited.^(Duden GWDS 1999) The older construction with the genitive (''jemanden einer Sache überzeugen'') is archaic.^(Wiktionary)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}