An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/zeigen

by Friedrich Kluge

zeigen, ‘to show, point out, demonstrate,’ from Middle High German zeigen, Old High German zeigôn, strong verb, ‘to show, indicate’; a specifically High German derivative of the Teutonic strong verbal root tī̆h, Modern High German zeihen. The latter comes from Middle High German zîhen, strong verb, ‘to accuse of, depose concerning,’ Old High German zîhan, ‘to accuse'; also Modern High German verzeihen, ‘to pardon,’ Middle High German verzîhen, Old High German frizîhan, ‘to deny, refuse pardon.’ Based on the Aryan strong verbal root dik (for dig see Zeichen); compare Sanscrit diç, ‘to exhibit, produce, direct to,’ Greek δείκνυμι, ‘to show,’ Latin dico, ‘to say.’ The primary meaning of the root is preserved by Zeichen and zeigen, as well as by Gothic gateihan, ‘to announce, narrate, proclaim, say’; compare the compounds Old Saxon aftîhan, Anglo-Saxon ofteón, ‘to deny.’ In High German the word seems to have acquired a legal sense (compare Latin causidicus judex); compare Inzicht.