An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/machen

by Friedrich Kluge

machen, vb., ‘to make, produce, cause, perform,’ from the equiv. MidHG. machen, OHG. mahhôn; corresponding to the equiv. OSax. makôn, Du. maken, AS. macian, E. to make; a common Teut. vb. for ‘to make,’ but existing also as a borrowed term in the Northern dials. The OHG. vb. further signifies ‘to combine, join.’ As allied to Goth. *makôn, comp. the adjs. — OIc. *makr, only in the compar. makara, ‘more suitable or convenient,’ AS. gemœc, ‘suitable, fit,’ OHG. gimah, ‘combined with, belonging to, corresponding, convenient,’ MidHG. gemach, ModHG. gemach; OHG. gimah, neut. of the adj., ‘combination, convenience, agreeableness,’ MidHG. gemach, m. and n., ‘comfort, agreeableness, place where one rests, dwelling, room,’ ModHG. Gemach); further, AS. gemœčča, ‘husband, wife,’ E. make, ‘companion, spouse,’ E. match, OHG. gimahho, ‘companion,’ gimahha, ‘wife,’ OHG. gimahhidi, MidHG. gemęchede, n., ‘spouse.’ Hence results a Teut. root mak, ‘to join or belong to in a suitable manner’ (equiv. in meaning to the root gad in Gatte). A non-Teut. root mag, with this sense, has not yet been found.