German

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Etymology

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From Low German kniepen (to squeeze; blink), from Middle Low German knîpen, whence also German kneifen (kneipen). The Low German form was conflated with another verb Middle Low German knippen (to blink), which is probably not originally related. Compare Dutch knippen for more.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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kniepen (weak, third-person singular present kniept, past tense kniepte, past participle gekniept, auxiliary haben)

  1. (Northern Germany, colloquial after archaic literary use) alternative form of kneifen
  2. (Northern Germany, chiefly colloquial) to blink, wink
    Synonym: zwinkern

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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