beweisen German · revision 35853

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1120–1130, Reimphysiologus|origins=ine-pro *weyd-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈvaɪ̯zən/, [bəˈvaɪ̯zn̩]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''beweisen''' (class 1 strong, third-person singular present beweist, past tense bewies, past participle bewiesen, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|bewīsen]], a prefix derivation [[af|de|be-|weisen]], with [[gml|bewīsen]] and [[nl|bewijzen]] beside it.^(Kluge 2011|118)^(DWB2) It was a weak verb in Middle High German; strong forms appear in the 15th and 16th centuries and prevailed by the 17th, as in the simple verb.^(Kluge 2011|118)^(DWB2)^(Paul 2002) Kluge suggests that an older verb [[m|goh|wīzan|alt=-wīzan|t=to impute]] may have helped.^(Kluge 2011|118)

+

+ The base [[weisen]], [[gmh|wīsen]], [[goh|wīsen]], continues [[gem-pro|*wīsijaną]], as do [[non|vísa]] and [[ang|wīsan]].^(Kluge 2011|980) Kluge connects it with [[ine-pro|*weyd-|t=to see, know]], the root of [[wissen]], though the morphology is unclear and he finds a derivation from [[weise]] unlikely;^(Kluge 2011|980)^(Duden 7 2020|926) Duden derives it from that adjective.^(Kluge 2011|980)^(Duden 7 2020|926)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The revised Grimms' dictionary quotes the Reimphysiologus of about 1120–1130, both for “to instruct”, in ''wer bewiset dich'' “who has taught you”, and for “to show to be true”, in what holy scripture ''wol chan bewisen'' “can well prove”.^(DWB2) With a personal object the verb first meant “to direct, correct, teach”.^(Kluge 2011|118)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ With an object of the thing, ''beweisen'' came to mean “to show, demonstrate”, and in legal language, from the producing of evidence, “to prove conclusively”; from there it passed into the language of science.^(Kluge 2011|118)^(Pfeifer 1993) Luther and Hans Sachs still used weak forms (''er hat sich herlich beweiset''), while in Switzerland and Alsace ''bewies'' was already usual.^(DWB|1, 1778) In older German it also meant to show feelings or favours towards someone, as in Schiller's ''Ihr habt dem Hut nicht Reverenz bewiesen'', a use now replaced by [[erweisen]].^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ The noun [[Beweis]] is a back-formation from the weak verb, found in 15th-century legal language and in Fischart, replacing older ''Beweisung'';^(Kluge 2011|118)^(Paul 2002) ''unter Beweis stellen'' “to demonstrate” is a recent phrase.^(Kluge 2011|118)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 8th century – Old High German ''wīsen'' is first recorded.^(Kluge 2011|980)

+ * c. 1120–1130 – The Reimphysiologus uses ''bewisen''.^(DWB2)

+ * 13th century – Kluge's date for the first record of ''bewīsen''.^(Kluge 2011|118)

+ * 15th century – Strong forms begin, and ''Beweis'' appears in legal texts.^(Kluge 2011|118)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 17th century – The strong past ''bewies'' becomes general.^(DWB|1, 1778)^(DWB2)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|prove]], to show that something is true by arguments, evidence or witnesses: ''Der Anwalt konnte die Unschuld seiner Mandantin beweisen.'';^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''was zu beweisen war'', the closing formula of a proof.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To show or [[m|en|display]] a quality: ''Sie hat bei der Rettung großen Mut bewiesen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To prove oneself, to show one's abilities: ''Der junge Trainer will sich in der ersten Liga beweisen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To turn out to be something.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(dated)'' To show respect or a favour to someone; now [[erweisen]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Beweis]]

+ * [[beweisbar]]

+ * [[Beweisung]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[weisen]]

+ * [[erweisen]]

+ * [[nachweisen]]

+ * [[wissen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}