German

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Etymology

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Attested from the 16th century. Formally, ab (off) +‎ gebrüht (scalded, boiled), based on the idea that things are hardened or “steeled” by boiling (e.g. eggs, compare hartgesotten, English hard-boiled). At the same time, perhaps originally, from vulgar Middle Low German brǖden (“to fuck”, also in the sense of “to afflict”), cognate and synonymous with early modern German bräuten, from Braut (bride); meaning that someone is the opposite of “innocent”.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈap.ɡəˌbʁyːt/
  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

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abgebrüht (strong nominative masculine singular abgebrühter, comparative abgebrühter, superlative am abgebrühtesten)

  1. (chiefly derogatory, sometimes commendatory) callous and cunning; experienced in “the game”, in immoral behaviour
    Synonym: durchtrieben

Declension

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See also

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Further reading

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  • abgebrüht” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache