beschäftigen German · revision 36292

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1564, a letter of Primus Truber|origins=gmh scheftec}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * [ˌbəˈʃɛftɪɡən], [ˌbəˈʃɛftɪɡŋ̍]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''beschäftigen''' (third-person singular present beschäftigt, past tense beschäftigte, past participle beschäftigt, auxiliary haben)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a verb formed with the prefix [[m|de|be-]] from the adjective [[gmh|scheftec|t=active, busy]], also [[m|gmh|scheftic]], which belongs to [[schaffen]] in the sense “to work”.^(Kluge 2011|113)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch) The Duden dictionaries name the Central German form of that adjective, “busy, active, diligent”.^(Duden 7 2020|142)^(Duden GWDS 1999) Pfeifer and the revised Grimms' dictionary think it was formed under the influence of [[gml|bescheftich|t=busy, industrious]] and of the rare [[m|gmh|bescheften|t=to be busy, to occupy oneself]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB2|4, 1051) The same derivative of that verb with a /t/ is found in [[Geschäft]].^(Kluge 2011|113)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Kluge, Pfeifer and Paul date the verb to the first half of the 17th century, first in the reflexive sense “to occupy oneself with something”.^(Kluge 2011|113)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002) The revised Grimms' dictionary has an earlier example in a letter of Primus Truber of 1564, which excuses the gentlemen ''beim crabatischen druck beschäftigten'' (busy with the Croatian printing).^(DWB2|4, 1051) The simple Middle High German ''bescheften'' is recorded about 1220.^(Köbler MHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “to be busy with something” the verb came to mean, in the 18th century, “to give someone something to do”.^(Pfeifer 1993) Adelung called it a word of the more refined style.^(Adelung 1793) The sense “to employ” in a trade or factory follows: the Grimms' dictionary gives the example of a factory that employs a hundred workers.^(DWB|1, 1544)^(Paul 2002) The negative ''unbeschäftigt'' came to mean “unemployed” in working life.^(Paul 2002) The noun [[Beschäftigung]] is first recorded in 1749, in Lessing's ''Der Freigeist''.^(Paul 2002) Kant spoke of ''beschäftigter Müßiggang'' (busy idleness).^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1220 – Middle High German ''bescheften'' “to be busy”.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 1564 – Early record in a letter of Primus Truber.^(DWB2|4, 1051)

+ * First half of the 17th century – The reflexive verb comes into general use.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1685 – Abraham a Sancta Clara writes of Martha, too busy with the ladle.^(DWB2|4, 1051)

+ * 1749 – First record of ''Beschäftigung'', in Lessing.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 18th century – The transitive sense “to give someone something to do”.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(reflexive, with mit)'' To [[m|en|occupy]] oneself with something, devote one's time to it: ''Sie beschäftigt sich gern mit alten Landkarten.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To deal with a question or problem, think it over for some time: ''Der Ausschuss wird sich mit der Beschwerde beschäftigen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|preoccupy]], keep someone's mind busy: ''Diese Frage beschäftigt mich seit Wochen.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # To [[m|en|employ]], have as staff: ''Die Firma beschäftigt zweihundert Leute.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To keep someone busy, give someone something to do: ''die Gäste mit Spielen beschäftigen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Beschäftigung]]

+ * [[beschäftigt]]

+ * [[unbeschäftigt]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[schaffen]]

+ * [[Geschäft]]

+ * [[geschäftig]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}