ergötzen
German
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle High German ergetzen (“to cause to forget”), from Old High German irgezan, hence "to compensate, to reimburse". The verb is a causative to a lost Middle High German ergëzzen which existed alongside vergëzzen, whence modern vergessen (“to forget”); the simplex verb *getzen is also lost.
Alternative forms
The spelling with ö first arises in the 16th century, but the older spelling "ergetzen" also persists until at least the early 19th century.
Pronunciation
Verb
- (transitive) (with genitive) to compensate (someone for some damage)
- 1534 "die in als ein sun seins leids mit einem guldin oder zehen ergötzen." (Sebastian Franck, Weltbuch)
- (transitive) to delight, amuse or gladden
- 1769 "ach eine schöne frau ergetzet uns unendlich." (Goethe, Die Mitschuldigen)
- (reflexive) sich ergötzen (an) to cherish, to be amused (by)
- 1808 "wenn blutegel sich an seinem steisz ergetzen / ist er von geistern und von geist curiert" (Goethe, Faust) trans. Bayard Taylor (1875): "when upon his rump the leeches hang and fuddle / he'll be of spirits and of Spirit cured."
Conjugation
Derived terms
- Ergetzen, Ergötzen n (“amusement, delight”)
- ergötzlich
- Ergötzung f (“amusement, delight”)
Further reading
- “ergötzen” in Duden online
Categories:
- German terms inherited from Middle High German
- German terms derived from Middle High German
- German terms inherited from Old High German
- German terms derived from Old High German
- German 3-syllable words
- German terms with IPA pronunciation
- German terms with audio links
- German transitive verbs
- German reflexive verbs