An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Acht

by Friedrich Kluge

Acht, f., ‘outlawry, ban,’ from MidHG. âhte, œhte, f., ‘pursuit, proscription, outlawry, ban’; OHG. âhta (AS. ôht), f., ‘hostile pursuit.’ Goth. *âhtjan. ‘to pursue,’ is wanting. Comp. OSax. âhtian, AS. êhtan (from anhtjan), ‘to pursue.’ Teut. *añhtian, ‘to pursue,’ and *anhtô, ‘pursuit,’ seem to be based on a non-dental root, which is perhaps connected with the cognates of eng (Aryan root angh).