Stiftung German · revision 36196

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=3rd quarter of the 9th century, Old High German glosses}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈʃtɪftʊŋ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Stiftung''' ''f'' (genitive Stiftung, plural Stiftungen)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|stiftunge]], [[inh|goh|stiftunga]], formed [[af|goh|stiften|-unga]].^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(DWB|18, 2900)^(Köbler AHD) The verb, [[m|goh|gistiften]] (8th century), [[m|goh|stiften]] (9th century), first meant “to build, found”, as did [[ofs|stifta]]; in Dutch and Low German the form has /cht/, as [[nl|stichten]].^(Kluge 2011|885)^(Pfeifer 1993) Its origin is unclear.^(Kluge 2011|885) Kluge thinks two roots may have mixed in the north, comparing [[ang|stihtian|t=to arrange, found]].^(Kluge 2011|885) Pfeifer, assuming a basic sense “to put up a building on wooden posts”, would connect it with [[Stift]] “peg” and the root of [[steif]].^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The only Old High German record, in glosses of the third quarter of the 9th century, has ''stiftunga'' in the sense “trick, crafty plot, machination”.^(Köbler AHD) The verb was then used of founding buildings, towns and places of worship.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Early New High German ''stiftung'' meant the founding of an institution meant to last, including its legal confirmation and the charter, and the gift, usually by wealthy persons, by which a church or other institution was endowed and maintained; it could also mean the institution of the Lord's Supper, seen as Christ's foundation.^(FWB) The Zürich chronicle of 1519 begins “von anfang der stiftung der statt Zürich” (“from the beginning of the founding of the city of Zürich”).^(DWB|18, 2900) As with the verb, which moved from building to having built, providing and giving, both church and secular charitable endowments came to be called ''Stiftung''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(FWB) In modern law it is an endowment bound to a purpose and the institution it funds.^(Duden GWDS 1999) Its counterpart in Dutch is [[m|nl|stichting]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 3rd quarter of the 9th century – Old High German ''stiftunga'' “machination” in glosses.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * 1519 – The Zürich chronicle speaks of the founding of the city.^(DWB|18, 2900)

+ * 1551 – Carbach's Livius counts years from the founding of Rome.^(DWB|18, 2900)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(law)'' A [[m|en|donation]] or [[m|en|endowment]] tied to a particular purpose, by which something is founded or supported: ''Das Museum lebt von einer privaten Stiftung''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|foundation]]: an institution financed and maintained by such an endowment: ''eine Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The act of donating something: ''Die Stiftung der neuen Orgel verdankt die Gemeinde einem Bäcker''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stiften]]

+ * [[Stifter]]

+ * [[Stift]]

+ * [[anstiften]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}