ergötzen

German

Alternative forms

• ergetzen (archaic)

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

• IPA^(key): /ɛʁˈɡœtsən/, [ʔɛɐ̯ˈɡœtsn̩]

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

1. (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)
2. (transitive) to delight, amuse or gladden
   • 1769 "ach eine schöne frau ergetzet uns unendlich." (Goethe, Die Mitschuldigen)
3. (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."

Derived terms

• Ergetzen, Ergötzen n (“amusement, delight”)
• ergötzlich
• Ergötzung f (“amusement, delight”)

Further reading

• “ergötzen” in Duden online