An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Sühne

by Friedrich Kluge

Sühne, f., ‘atonement, expiation, reconciliation,’ from MidHG. (rare) süene (mostly suone), f., ‘atonement, reconciliation, sentence,’ OHG. suona, f., ‘sentence, court, reconciliation.’ To this is allied ModHG. sühnen, vb., ‘to atone for, expiate, conciliate,’ from MidHG. süenen, OHG. suonen, ‘to conciliate, reconcile, equalise’ (OHG. ‘to judge’). OHG. suona, ‘court,’ and OIc. són, ‘sacrifice,’ appear to be connected with a root sā̆n, ‘to set up,’ from which Lat. sânus, ‘healthy,’ and ModHG. gesund may have been derived. Deriv. versöhnen, ‘to reconcile.’