An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Sühne

by Friedrich Kluge

Sühne, feminine, ‘atonement, expiation, reconciliation,’ from Middle High German (rare) süene (mostly suone), feminine, ‘atonement, reconciliation, sentence,’ Old High German suona, feminine, ‘sentence, court, reconciliation.’ To this is allied Modern High German sühnen, verb, ‘to atone for, expiate, conciliate,’ from Middle High German süenen, Old High German suonen, ‘to conciliate, reconcile, equalise’ (Old High German ‘to judge’). Old High German suona, ‘court,’ and Old Icelandic són, ‘sacrifice,’ appear to be connected with a root sā̆n, ‘to set up,’ from which Latin sânus, ‘healthy,’ and Modern High German gesund may have been derived. Derivative versöhnen, ‘to reconcile.’