begleiten German · revision 36266

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation, blend|attested=14th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /bəˈɡlaɪ̯tən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''begleiten''' (third-person singular present begleitet, past tense begleitete, past participle begleitet, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Kluge explains it as [[af|gmh|be-|geleite|t2=escort]], formed in the 14th century in the sense “to give an escort” from the noun belonging to [[leiten]], and contracted in New High German, while Dutch keeps the full form, [[nl|begeleiden]].^(Kluge 2011|103) Pfeifer, Paul and the Duden dictionaries describe it as a blend of the older verbs [[m|gmh|beleiten]] ([[goh|bileiten|t=to lead, guide]]) and [[geleiten]], which merged towards the end of the 14th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999) Duden 7 considers the merger only possible and dates the form to the 17th century; the Dutch word points to an earlier stage with both prefixes.^(Duden 7 2020|136)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The revised Grimm dictionary quotes it from an account of a pilgrimage written after 1491, in which an official “accompanied His Grace to Marburg” the next day.^(DWB2|4, 587) It also quotes Dürer's diary of his journey (1520–21): ''da begleitteten .. sie uns mitt wintlichtern gahr ehrlich heim'' (“then they accompanied us home with torches, with great honour”).^(DWB2|4, 587) Early New High German used it for going with someone for protection, guard or company, and for following the dead to the grave.^(FWB)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The new form was slow to win: Dasypodius, Maaler and Henisch still write ''beleiten'' and Luther uses ''geleiten''; according to the Grimms it spread only with the Silesian poets, such as Opitz.^(DWB|1, 1299) Beleiten was given up in the 17th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ Figurative uses express things that go together or happen at once: Stieler has ''Ehre wird vom Hochmut begleitet'' (“honour is accompanied by pride”).^(Paul 2002) In music, from the 17th century, ''begleiten'' is the German word for accompanying a singer or a melody instrument, after [[fr|accompagner]] and [[it|accompagnare]], replacing ''akkompagnieren''.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) The noun ''Begleitung'' dates from the 16th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 14th century – First record.^(Kluge 2011|103)

+ * After 1491 – ''begleittet'' in a pilgrimage account.^(DWB2|4, 587)

+ * 1520–21 – Dürer uses it in the diary of his journey.^(DWB2|4, 587)

+ * 16th century – ''Begleitung'' is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 17th century – Musical sense “to accompany”;^(Pfeifer 1993) ''beleiten'' falls out of use.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|accompany]] someone, go with them for company or protection; to [[m|en|escort]] someone somewhere: ''Ich begleite dich noch bis zur Haltestelle.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(elevated)'' To occur together with something.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+ # To add something to something else, such as a commentary to an edition.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(music)'' To accompany a soloist or a song on an [[Instrument|alt=instrument]]: ''Er begleitete die Sängerin am Klavier.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary DE)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Begleiter]]

+ * [[Begleitung]]

+ * [[Begleiterscheinung]]

+ * [[Begleitschreiben]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[geleiten]]

+ * [[verleiten]]

+ * [[leiten]]

+ * [[Geleit]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Lessing, Goethe and Wilhelm von Humboldt wrote ''einen Rang begleiten'' or ''ein Amt begleiten'' for “to hold a rank, an office”, a confusion with [[bekleiden]] that the Grimms called faulty.^(DWB|1, 1299)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}