besetzen German · revision 36137

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=8th century, Old High German glosses|origins=ine-pro *sed-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈzɛtsən/, /b̥eˈsɛtsɛn/^(Wiktionary)

+ * Germany: [bəˈzɛtsn̩]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Austria: [b̥eˈsɛtsn̩]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''besetzen''' (third-person singular present besetzt, past tense besetzte, past participle besetzt, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|besetzen]], [[inh|goh|bisezzen]], [[inh|gmw-pro|*bisattjan]], [[inh|gem-pro|*bisatjaną|t=to set around; to occupy]], made with the prefix [[be-]] from the verb [[setzen]].^(Wiktionary)^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002) The same compound is [[got|𐌱𐌹𐍃𐌰𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=bisatjan|t=to surround with]], [[ang|besettan]], [[nl|bezetten]], [[sv|besätta]] and [[da|besætte]], and in English [[m|en|beset]].^(DWB|1, 1618)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The base verb is a causative of [[sitzen]], so that it first meant “to make sit, let sit”.^(Kluge 2011|846)^(Pfeifer 1993) It goes back to [[gem-pro|*satjaną|t=to set]], also found in [[got|𐍃𐌰𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=satjan]], [[non|setja]] and [[m|ang|settan]].^(Kluge 2011|846)^(Kroonen 2013) Kroonen traces it to a causative [[ine-pro|*sod-éye-]] of the root [[ine-pro|*sed-|t=to sit]], and Kluge and Pfeifer compare the causatives [[sa|सादयति|tr=sādáyati|t=makes sit]] and [[lt|sodinti|alt=sodìnti|t=to set, plant]].^(Kroonen 2013)^(Köbler AHD)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|846)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old High German ''bisezzen'' appears in glosses from about 765 and in Notker, meaning “to watch over, occupy, set up, install” and “to plant”.^(Köbler AHD) In Middle High German, from the ''Jüngere Judith'' (1130/1150) on, ''besetzen'' meant “to occupy (also militarily), to fill an office, to grant as a fief, to besiege, to lay down”.^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Early New High German used the verb for many ways of filling or furnishing a thing: paving a road with stones, planting a field, stocking a pond with fish, laying a table and trimming a garment.^(FWB) The Grimms' dictionary starts from lands, towns and castles “set” with people, as in Luther's Bible, which led to the sense “to occupy with troops”.^(DWB|1, 1618)^(Paul 2002) Filling a seat or post (''eine Stelle besetzen'') and casting a play (Schiller wrote of how hard it would be to cast a part) are also old.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The noun [[Besatzung]] (Middle High German ''besatzunge'') has meant the troops that hold a place, or an occupation, since the 16th century, and [[Besatzungsmacht]] “occupying power” became common in the Second World War and after.^(Paul 2002) In recent political language ''ein Haus besetzen'' is to move into an empty building without the owner's consent, a [[Hausbesetzung]].^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 8th century – Old High German ''bisezzen'' appears in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 1130/1150 – Middle High German ''besetzen'' in the ''Jüngere Judith''.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 16th century – ''Besatzung'' comes to mean an occupying garrison.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1940s – ''Besatzungsmacht'' “occupying power” is used during and after the Second World War.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|trim]] or [[m|en|decorate]] with something sewn or stuck on: ''einen Kragen mit Pelz besetzen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # To [[m|en|occupy]] or [[m|en|reserve]] a place or seat; in the past participle ''besetzt'' “taken, not free”, also of an engaged telephone line or toilet.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # To fill a [[m|en|post]] or position; in theatre and film, to [[m|en|cast]] a role or production.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To occupy a territory militarily and hold it as a foreign power.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To take possession of a building or place, as demonstrators or [[m|en|squatter|alt=squatters]] do: ''eine leere Fabrikhalle besetzen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Besatzung]]

+ * [[Besetzer]]

+ * [[Besetzung]]

+ * [[Besatzungsmacht]]

+ * [[Hausbesetzer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Besatzer]]

+ * [[setzen]]

+ * [[sitzen]]

+ * [[en|beset]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}