Dutch

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Etymology

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A set phrase preserving otherwise obsolete dative grammatical case forms, arren being the genitive of ar and moede being the genitive of moed (disposition, mood).

Prepositional phrase

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in arren moede

  1. (obsolete) angrily
    Synonyms: woedend, boos
  2. (idiomatic, somewhat formal) out of desperation, lacking any further hope or recourse, at one's wit's end
    Synonym: ten einde raad
    Toen ik mijn huurwoning uitmoest ben ik in arren moede maar terug naar mijn ouders gegaan.When I had to leave my rental apartment I returned to my parents out of desperation.