töten German · revision 36061

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000, Notker|origins=gem-pro *daudaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈtøːtən/, [ˈtøː.tn̩]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''töten''' (third-person singular present tötet, past tense tötete, past participle getötet, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+ Older spellings are ''tödten'' and ''töden''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|tœten]] (also [[m|gmh|tœden]]), [[inh|goh|tōden]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*daudijan]], [[inh|gem-pro|*daudijaną|t=to make dead, kill]].^(Wiktionary)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler AHD) It is the factitive verb of the adjective [[tot]], formed from [[m|gem-pro|*daudaz|t=dead]] with the suffix [[m|gem-pro|*-janą]], so it means “to make dead”.^(Wiktionary)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|864)

+

+ The same verb is [[got|𐌳𐌰𐌿𐌸𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=dauþjan]] (also [[m|got|𐌲𐌰𐌳𐌰𐌿𐌸𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=gadauþjan]]), [[osx|bidōdian]], [[ang|ādȳdan]], [[non|deyða]], [[dum|dōden]] and [[nl|doden]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) Compare [[en|deaden]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''tōden'' is first recorded in Notker, about 1000, meaning “to kill”, and in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|332) The prefixed ''irtōden'' also appears about 1000.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle High German ''tœten'' meant “to make dead, kill”, and it was also used figuratively: generosity can “kill” sin before God, quicksilver is “killed” with spittle, and a document could be declared void, as in a Wertheim charter of 1356 in which one letter is to ''tôden und vernichten'' another.^(Lexer 1872) Early New High German used it, especially in religious writing, for mortifying the flesh and overcoming sin.^(FWB)

+

+ [[abtöten]], already Gothic ''afdauþjan'', is recorded from the 15th century, and today is used above all of destroying micro-organisms;^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|864) ''ertöten'' has had its modern sense “to deaden (a feeling)” since the 18th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|864) In colloquial use one can “kill” bacteria, the nerve of a tooth, or a cigarette by stubbing it out.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * About 1000 – Notker uses Old High German ''tōden''.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 1356 – A Wertheim charter uses ''tôden'' for cancelling a document.^(Lexer 1872)

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

+ * 18th century – ''ertöten'' takes its modern sense.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|kill]], to cause the death of a person or animal: ''Der Jäger tötete den verletzten Hirsch mit einem Schuss.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To kill oneself.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' To destroy or put out of action: to kill bacteria or the nerve of a tooth, to stub out a cigarette.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Tötung]]

+ * [[abtöten]]

+ * [[ertöten]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tot]]

+ * [[Tod]]

+ * [[en|deaden]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The commandment ''Du sollst nicht töten'' “thou shalt not kill” uses the verb without an object.^(Duden GWDS 1999) The noun [[Tötung]] is Middle High German ''tœtunge''.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}