Bescheiden(heit)

Our adjective "bescheiden" and the derived noun "Bescheidenheit" have a tumultuous history. It is based on a Middle High German verb "bescheiden," which meant 'to separate, to distinguish, to differentiate.' Those who possessed the ability to do so were considered "bescheiden." For this adjective (originally a participle of the verb), the meaning evolved to 'wise, reasonable.' And those who possess these qualities are 'bescheiden' in the contemporary sense of the word. Recently, a pejorative usage has also emerged. In a second part of the presentation, the question is explored of how the word "bescheiden" is treated in German dictionaries (Grimm, Duden, Digital Dictionary of the German Language). This is followed by observations and evaluations of the current dictionary situation, which for the latter work is rather "bescheiden" (in the most recent sense of the word).