bahnung
|bahn-ung|
/ˈbaːnʊŋ/
making/preparing a path; facilitation
Etymology
'bahnung' originates from German, specifically from 'Bahn' + the suffix '-ung', where 'Bahn' meant 'track, way' and '-ung' is a nominalizing suffix.
'bahnung' changed from Middle High German forms such as 'banunge' (from Old High German 'ban') and ultimately traces to Proto-Germanic roots (cf. *band-), evolving into the modern German 'Bahnung'.
Initially it meant 'the making or laying out of a track or path', but over time it also acquired the figurative and technical sense of 'facilitation' (making an action or response easier), especially in scientific contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the action or process of creating a track or path; the formation of a course or channel.
The bahnung of a new footpath through the meadow changed how people crossed it.
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Noun 2
in psychology and neuroscience: facilitation or priming — a process by which prior stimulation makes a response or pathway more likely or easier to activate.
The experiment demonstrated bahnung in motor circuits after repeated training trials.
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Noun 3
in technical or engineering contexts (esp. rail/track): the preparation, laying-out, or maintenance work of a track or route.
During the project they focused on the bahnung of the temporary service track.
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Last updated: 2026/01/01 01:46