An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/machen

by Friedrich Kluge

machen, verb, ‘to make, produce, cause, perform,’ from the equivalent Middle High German machen, Old High German mahhôn; corresponding to the equivalent Old Saxon makôn, Dutch maken, Anglo-Saxon macian, English to make; a common Teutonic verb for ‘to make,’ but existing also as a borrowed term in the Northern dialects. The Old High German verb further signifies ‘to combine, join.’ As allied to Gothic *makôn, compare the adjectives — Old Icelandic *makr, only in the comparative makara, ‘more suitable or convenient,’ Anglo-Saxon gemœc, ‘suitable, fit,’ Old High German gimah, ‘combined with, belonging to, corresponding, convenient,’ Middle High German gemach, Modern High German gemach; Old High German gimah, neuter of the adjective, ‘combination, convenience, agreeableness,’ Middle High German gemach, masculine and neuter, ‘comfort, agreeableness, place where one rests, dwelling, room,’ Modern High German Gemach); further, Anglo-Saxon gemœčča, ‘husband, wife,’ English make, ‘companion, spouse,’ English match, Old High German gimahho, ‘companion,’ gimahha, ‘wife,’ Old High German gimahhidi, Middle High German gemęchede, neuter, ‘spouse.’ Hence results a Teutonic root mak, ‘to join or belong to in a suitable manner’ (equivalent in meaning to the root gad in Gatte). A non-Teutonic root mag, with this sense, has not yet been found.