ergänzen German · revision 36253

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=16th century|origins=gmw-pro *gant}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * [ɛɐ̯ˈɡɛntsən]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ergänzen''' (third-person singular present ergänzt, past tense ergänzte, past participle ergänzt, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|de|er-|ganz]], a prefixed derivative of the adjective meaning “whole”, with umlaut.^(Kluge 2011|332)^(Wiktionary)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The revised Grimm allows it to be either that or a prefixed form of [[gmh|genzen|t=to make whole]], early New High German [[gänzen]], and the Wiktionary DE entry takes it from that vanished verb.^(DWB2|8, 1750)^(Wiktionary DE) Pfeifer compares [[gml|gansen|t=to make whole]] and the uncertain [[goh|ganzēn|t=to save, protect; to be sound]] of the 9th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Köbler AHD)

+

+ The adjective [[ganz]], [[m|goh|ganz|t=sound, whole]], [[gmw-pro|*gant]], was originally only High German and spread northwards ([[m|gml|gans]], [[nl|gans]]).^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|332)^(Wiktionary) Its further origin is unclear: Kluge compares the comparative [[lt|gandžiaus|t=rather]] of Old Lithuanian and a root [[ine-pro|*gʰond-|t=enough, ready]], while Pfeifer considers [[ine-pro|*gʷʰen-|t=to swell, abound]].^(Kluge 2011|332)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The verb is common from the early 16th century, meaning “to repair, make good” and “to complete”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB2|8, 1750)^(Paul 2002) An earlier record in Johann von Neumarkt (about 1370) depends on an editor's conjecture.^(DWB2|8, 1750) The noun ''Ergänzung'' is recorded in 1508 in the sense “compensation”.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The older sense was “to restore what is damaged”: Luther wrote of restoring and repairing everything, and in 1525 subjects were ordered to rebuild a pond.^(Paul 2002)^(DWB2|8, 1750) Adelung (1793) still lists ''zerbrochene Brücken ergänzen'' “to repair broken bridges”, but as Upper German only; the general language kept the figurative “to supply what is missing”, such as gaps in a book.^(Adelung 1793|1, 1891) The reflexive and reciprocal uses (a committee that fills its own vacancies, two people who complement each other) followed.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The Grimms record the opposites ''entgänzen'' and ''zergänzen''.^(DWB|3, 815)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1370 – A doubtful record in Johann von Neumarkt.^(DWB2|8, 1750)

+ * 1508 – ''Ergänzung'' “compensation” is recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1519 – Linck writes of a rift in the heart being mended through Christ.^(DWB2|8, 1750)

+ * 1525 – An order to restore a pond.^(DWB2|8, 1750)

+ * 1752 – Wieland describes the hundred-headed dragon that keeps restoring itself.^(DWB2|8, 1750)

+ * 1793 – Adelung labels the physical sense Upper German.^(Adelung 1793|1, 1891)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|complete]] by filling gaps; to add to, [[m|en|supplement]]: ''die Bibliothek um neue Bände ergänzen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To become complete again, to fill one's own vacancies.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To complement, be added to: ''Fotos ergänzen den Bericht.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To add as a further remark: ''Darf ich noch etwas ergänzen?''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(reflexive or reciprocal)'' To [[m|en|complement]] one another: ''Die Geschwister ergänzen sich gut.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Ergänzung]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ganz]]

+ * [[Gänze]]

+ * [[gänzlich]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}