An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Beichte

by Friedrich Kluge

Beichte, f., ‘confession,’ from the equiv. MidHG. bîht, contracted from MidHG. and OHG. bíjiht, bígiht; a regular verbal noun from MidHG. bejëhen, OHG. bi-jëhan, ‘to confess, acknowledge.’ The simple form jëhan, usually signifying ‘to say, speak out,’ also means occasionally ‘to avow, confess’; hence OFr. gehir. This verb jëhan may possibly be connected with ja, which see.