Versuch German · revision 35770

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=12th–13th century, Old High German gloss|origins=ine-pro *seh₂g-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fɛɐ̯ˈzuːx/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Versuch''' ''m'' (genitive Versuches or Versuchs, plural Versuche)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|versuoch]], [[inh|goh|firsuoh|t=test, proof]], a noun belonging to [[versuchen]], [[gmh|versuochen]], formed with [[ver-]] from [[suchen]].^(Wiktionary)^(EWA)^(Paul 2002) The verb is [[goh|suohhen]], from [[gem-pro|*sōkijaną]], also found in [[got|𐍃𐍉𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=sōkjan]], [[non|sœkja]] and [[ang|sēcan]], whence English [[m|en|seek]].^(Kluge 2011|897)^(Kroonen 2013) Within Germanic it looks like a causative of the strong verb behind [[Sache]], but Kluge and Kroonen note that the cognates outside Germanic fit it better: [[la|sāgiō|t=to perceive keenly]], [[sga|saigid|t=seeks]], [[grc|ἡγέομαι|tr=hēgéomai|t=to lead]] and [[hit|šak-|t=to know]], from [[ine-pro|*seh₂g-]].^(Kluge 2011|897)^(Kroonen 2013) Kluge takes the starting sense to be a dog's following a scent, which could lead both to “seek” and to “lead”.^(Kluge 2011|897)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Old High German noun is found only once, in a gloss of the 12th–13th century, translating Latin ''probatio'' “test”.^(EWA)^(DWB|25, 1822) The Middle High German ''versuoch'' meant a striving or undertaking and a test.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Until the 17th century the noun was rare, and the senses “experiment” and “temptation” were shared with ''Versuchnis'' and ''Versuchung''; in the 17th century ''Versuch'' took over the sense “experiment”, and the split between ''Versuch'' “attempt” and ''Versuchung'' “temptation” became fixed.^(DWB|25, 1822) An older sense “hostile attack”, as in an assault on a fortress, lasted into the 19th century.^(DWB|25, 1822)^(Paul 2002) The sense “experiment” is found in Paracelsus and spread in science from the 18th century, as in Goethe's prismatic experiments;^(Paul 2002) “trial, test” is early New High German, and “undertaking, attempt” followed.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The word also stands in titles of essays and literary attempts, as German for [[Essay]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE) In rugby it is the word for a try.^(Duden GWDS 1999) Danish ''forsøg'' “test” was borrowed from German.^(DWB|25, 1822)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 12th–13th century – Old High German ''firsuoh'' glosses Latin ''probatio''.^(EWA)

+ * 16th century – Paracelsus uses ''Versuch'' for an experiment.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 17th century – ''Versuch'' replaces ''Versuchnis'' and ''Versuchung'' in the sense “experiment”.^(DWB|25, 1822)

+ * 18th century – The scientific sense spreads.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 19th century – The old sense “hostile attack” dies out.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|attempt]] to do something: ''Ihr zweiter Versuch, den Gipfel zu erreichen, gelang.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A literary or artistic attempt; an [[m|en|essay]], often in titles: ''Versuch über die Freundschaft''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(sports)'' One attempt at an exercise in a competition, as in the long jump.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(rugby)'' A [[m|en|try]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[m|en|experiment]] or test: ''ein Versuch mit Mäusen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[versuchsweise]]

+ * [[Tierversuch]]

+ * [[Fluchtversuch]]

+ * [[Versuchskaninchen]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[versuchen]]

+ * [[Versuchung]]

+ * [[suchen]]

+ * [[Besuch]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}