An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/bescheiden

by Friedrich Kluge

bescheiden, vb., ‘to distribute, assign, summon,’ from MidHG. bescheiden, OHG. bisceidan, ‘to divide, decide, relate, report.’ The ModHG. and MidHG. partic. bescheiden, meant orig. ‘definite,’ then ‘clear, distinct, intelligible, prudent.’ See scheiden.