bezahlen German · revision 35659

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=4th quarter of the 12th century, Windberg Psalter|origins=gem-pro *talō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈtsaːlən/, [bəˈt͡saː.lən]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bezahlen''' (third-person singular present bezahlt, past tense bezahlte, past participle bezahlt, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|bezaln]], [[af|de|be-|zahlen]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary)^(DWB2|5, 141) The same formation is [[gml|betālen]], [[dum|betalen]] (now [[nl|betalen]]) and [[ofs|bitalia]], and Wiktionary reconstructs [[gmw-pro|*bitalōn|t=to account for, settle accounts, pay]].^(DWB2|5, 141)^(Wiktionary) It corresponds to [[da|betale]] and [[sv|betala]].^(DWB|1, 1792)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The simple verb, [[goh|zalōn]] “to count, reckon”, is a denominative of [[Zahl]] “number”, [[m|goh|zala]], and since the 17th century has been specialised to paying a debt, properly “counting out coins”.^(Kluge 2011|1001)^(Pfeifer 1993) The noun goes back to [[gem-pro|*talō|t=speech, number]], also the source of [[ang|talu]] ([[en|tale]]) and [[non|tala]].^(Kroonen 2013)^(Pfeifer 1993) Its origin is unclear.^(Pfeifer 1993) Pfeifer reports a connection with [[grc|δόλος|tr=dólos|t=bait, trick]] and [[la|dolus|t=deceit]], from a root [[ine-pro|*del-|t=to aim, calculate, lie in wait]], or with a root [[m|ine-pro|*del(ə)-|t=to split, carve]], so that the word would first have meant a notch cut as a mark.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Middle High German ''bezaln'' is first recorded in the Windberg Psalter of the last quarter of the 12th century.^(Köbler MHD) It meant to count over, reckon, buy, acquire, reward and repay.^(Köbler MHD)^(Pfeifer 1993) The first quotation in DWB2, from Herbort von Fritzlar's Trojan poem (after 1190), has ''pries … bezalen'' “to win glory”: Achilles hoped to earn fame by fighting.^(DWB2|5, 141)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Grimms note that the older languages used other verbs for paying: Gothic said ''usgiban'', Old High German ''argeban'' and ''geltan'', and in Middle High German ''gelten'' was still more frequent than ''bezaln''.^(DWB|1, 1792) In a Cologne guild charter of 1261/69 goods are to be paid for ''mit gereiden penningen'' “with ready pennies”, and the verb is common in the sense of paying a price, a debt or wages in Luther's Bible, as in ''bis du auch den letzten Heller bezahlest'' (Matthew 5:26).^(DWB2|5, 141)^(DWB|1, 1792) Grimmelshausen in 1672 speaks of paying for shoes ''mit baar geld'' “in cash”.^(DWB2|5, 141)

+

+ Figurative uses are old: one pays for a mistake or with one's life, and Adelung records ''die Zeche bezahlen'' “to pay the bill” also in the sense of suffering for others.^(Adelung 1793)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The phrase ''sich bezahlt machen'' means that an outlay pays off.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Last quarter of the 12th century – Middle High German ''bezaln'' in the Windberg Psalter.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * After 1190 – Herbort von Fritzlar uses it for winning glory.^(DWB2|5, 141)

+ * 1261/69 – A Cologne guild charter speaks of paying in cash.^(DWB2|5, 141)

+ * 1441 – Cologne brewers are to pay their fines before brewing again.^(DWB2|5, 141)

+ * 1531 – Hedio's Josephus uses it of repaying parents for their care.^(DWB2|5, 141)

+ * 17th century – The simple verb ''zahlen'' is specialised to paying a debt.^(Kluge 2011|1001)

+ * 1672 – Grimmelshausen writes of paying ''mit baar geld''.^(DWB2|5, 141)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|pay]] for something, to give its value in money: ''Wir haben die Getränke schon bezahlt.'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?''; figuratively, ''etwas mit dem Leben bezahlen'', to pay for something with one's life;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''sich bezahlt machen'', to [[m|en|pay off]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To pay someone for work, to [[m|en|remunerate]]: ''Die Firma bezahlt ihre Leute gut.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To pay a sum of money: ''Sie hat für das Fahrrad 300 Euro bezahlt.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To pay what is owed to the one entitled to it: ''die Steuern bezahlen'', ''die Miete bezahlen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bezahlbar]]

+ * [[Bezahlschranke]]

+ * [[Bezahlung]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[zahlen]]

+ * [[Zahl]]

+ * [[erzählen]]

+ * [[en|tale]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Er läuft, als ob er's bezahlt bekäme'' (“he runs as if he were being paid for it”) is a colloquial way of saying that someone runs very fast.^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''Bezahlen'' and the simple ''zahlen'' are largely interchangeable, but ''bezahlen'' takes the thing paid for or the person paid as its object.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}