belämmert
German
editAlternative forms
edit- belemmert (pre-1996 reform spelling)
Etymology
editPast participle of the rarer verb belämmern or belemmern (“to annoy", "to molest”), from Middle Low German belemmeren. The verb pertains to lahm (“lame”) and is cognate with Dutch belemmeren (“to hamper”). The semantic development of the adjective in German is, at least in part, due to association with Lamm (“lamb”, plural Lämmer), a supposedly naïve or stupid animal. Hence also the folketymological reform spelling with -ä-.
Pronunciation
editParticiple
editbelämmert
Adjective
editbelämmert (strong nominative masculine singular belämmerter, comparative belämmerter, superlative am belämmertsten)
- perplexed; in a sudden state of confusion (e.g. through a lack of concentration, or shock)
- Könnten Sie das bitte noch mal wiederholen? Ich war gerade etwas belämmert.
- Could you please repeat that once more? I had lost my concentration for a second.
- Nach dem Abpfiff war ich völlig belämmert. Ich erinnere mich kaum an die Siegerehrung.
- When the match was over, I was completely perplexed. I hardly remember the award ceremony.
- intimidated, discouraged, disheartened
- Nach seiner Entlassung kam er ziemlich belämmert nach Hause.
- After his dismissal he came home quite disheartened.
- (colloquial) stupid, silly, crazy (interchangeable with behämmert)
- Bist du total belämmert?! Was machst du da?!
- Are you completely out of your mind?! What are you doing?!
Usage notes
edit- The spelling belämmert has been the prescribed spelling since the German spelling reform of 1996 (the Rechtschreibreform). In the affected areas, the previous spelling (belemmert) is now less common, and may be regarded as a misspelling.
Declension
editPositive forms of belämmert
Comparative forms of belämmert
Superlative forms of belämmert
Verb
editbelämmert
- inflection of belämmern:
Further reading
edit- “belämmert” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
Categories:
- German terms derived from Middle Low German
- German 3-syllable words
- German terms with IPA pronunciation
- German terms with audio links
- German non-lemma forms
- German past participles
- German lemmas
- German adjectives
- German terms with usage examples
- German colloquialisms
- German words affected by 1996 spelling reform
- German verb forms