An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Statt

by Friedrich Kluge

Statt, feminine, ‘place, stead,’ from Middle High German and Old High German stat, feminine, ‘place, spot’; from the plural (Old High German stęti, Middle High German stęte) is derived Modern High German Stätte, feminine, ‘place, site.’ Corresponding to Dutch stede, steê, ‘spot, place, small town.’ The Modern High German preposition statt (compare kraft) is properly an oblique case of the substantive; in Middle High German (very rarely) an... stęte, ‘in place of,’ &c. Modern High German zu statten (as in the phrase zu statten kommen, ‘to serve one's turn, be useful’) is not connected with this word Statt, but is based on Middle High German stat, Old High German stata, feminine, ‘convenient spot or period, occasion, help’; hence even in Middle High German ze staten, Old High German zi statu, ‘at a suitable time, for assistance.’ With this is associated Modern High German gestatten, Middle High German gestaten, Old High German gistatôn, ‘to permit,’ literally ‘to furnish a good opportunity.’ Old High German stata is, like stat (genitive stęti), a verbal abstract of stehen. — Modern High German stattfinden, ‘to take place,’ from Middle High German state finden, ‘to find a good opportunity.’ —