bezichtigen

From zicht +‎ be- -igen, replacing earlier bezichten. Compare German besichtigen.

• IPA^(key): /bəˈzɪxtəɣə(n)/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: be‧zich‧ti‧gen

bezichtigen

1. (transitive, formal) to behold
2. (transitive, formal) to sightsee, to view

   De steen van Rosette kan worden bezichtigd in het British Museum in Londen, waar hij al sinds 1802 wordt bewaard.

   The Rosetta stone can be viewed at the British Museum in London, where it has been kept ever since 1802.

• bezichtiging

16th century, enhanced form of bezichten (15th c.), denominal from now obsolete Bezicht (“accusation”), from Middle High German beziht, itself deverbal from Old High German bezīhan.^[1][2] Modern German bezeihen was gradually displaced, but is still attested until the early 20th century.

The form with -ig- appears to be of northern origin; compare earlier Middle Low German betichtigen (14th c.), Middle Dutch betichtigen (early 15th c., though now only betichten). It follows the adjective in Middle Low German betichtich, Middle High German bezihtec (“accused, infamous”).

• IPA^(key): /bəˈtsɪçtɪɡən/, [bəˈt͡sɪç.tɪ.ɡŋ̍], [-ɡ(ə)n]

• Audio (Germany):

  (file)

• Audio (Germany):

  (file)

bezichtigen (weak, third-person singular present bezichtigt, past tense bezichtigte, past participle bezichtigt, auxiliary haben)

1. (higher register, transitive) to accuse [with accusative ‘someone’ and genitive ‘of something’]

   Synonym: beschuldigen

   Herr Müller bezichtigte seine Frau, gelogen zu haben.

   Mr Müller accused his wife of having lied.

   Frau Müller wurde der Lüge bezichtigt.

   Mrs Müller was accused of a lie.

• Bezichtigen has the connotation that there is little factual evidence for the accusation. Accordingly it is used especially when the speaker considers the accusation false, but this depends on the context.

• Bezichtiger
• Bezichtigung

• zeihen, verzeihen, verzichten
• bezeihen, Bezicht, bezichten (all obsolete)

• “bezichtigen” in Duden online
• “bezichtigen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “bezichtigen” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.