See also: Gnaden

German edit

Etymology edit

From Middle High German genāden, from Old High German ginādōn. See Gnade (mercy).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈɡnaːdn̩/
  • (file)

Verb edit

gnaden (weak, third-person singular present gnadet, past tense gnadete, past participle gegnadet, auxiliary haben)

  1. (archaic, with dative) to have mercy on somebody

Usage notes edit

The only form of this verb still used in contemporary German is the subjunctive gnade in set phrases such as gnade dir Gott! (“May God have mercy upon you!”) or gnade uns Gott! (“May God have mercy upon us all!”) These phrases are commonly used as warnings: Wenn du dich in der Wüste verfährst, dann gnade dir Gott! – “If you lose your way in the desert, then may God have mercy upon you!”

Conjugation edit

Related terms edit

Further reading edit

  • gnaden” in Duden online
  • gnaden” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache