An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/ziemen

by Friedrich Kluge

ziemen, verb, ‘to beseem, become, suit,’ from Middle High German zëmen, Old High German zëman, ‘to beseem, suit, be adapted, gratify'; corresponding to Gothic gatiman, Old Saxon tëman, Dutch betamen, strong verb, ‘to be proper, suit.’ It has been suggested under zahm that Old High German zeman, ‘to suit,’ is a deduction from the causative zähmen (see zahm and Zunft). Allied to ziemlich, adjective, ‘suitable, moderate, tolerable,’ from Middle High German zimelich, ‘proper, adapted.’