liefern

German

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle High German lieveren (before 1350), which may be borrowed directly from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old French livrer, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin līberāre, but was probably introduced via (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle Dutch and (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle Low German lēveren (the vocalism -ie- then being due to hypercorrection; compare also attested liebern). Low German definitely contributed to the spread of the word, which was part of the technical vocabulary of the Hanseatic League. Compare with modern Dutch leveren, Swedish leverera and French livrer.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈliːfɐn/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: lie‧fern

Verb

1. to supply, provide (goods etc.) (an to)
2. to deliver (goods, an order etc.)
   • 2017, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 7 March:

     Wichtiger ist, dass die Ware innerhalb einer definierten Zeit und an einen genau bestimmten Ort geliefert wird.

     More importantly, the goods are delivered in a specified time and place.

3. (crops) to yield (produce outcome)
4. (information) to research, to read up on something
5. (battle, duel, war) to fight

Derived terms

• abliefern
• anliefern
• ausliefern
• beliefern
• einliefern
• energieliefernd
• Lieferung
• mitliefern
• nachliefern
• überliefern
• zuliefern

 

Further reading

• “liefern” in Duden online