German

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Etymology

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From Middle High German lestern, lastern, from Old High German lastarōn, derived from laster (abuse, revilement). Analysable as Laster +‎ -n.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈlɛstɐn/
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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lästern (weak, third-person singular present lästert, past tense lästerte, past participle gelästert, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive) to blaspheme against
    Die Ketzer lästern Gott und alle Heiligen.
    The heretics blaspheme against God and all his saints.
  2. (intransitive) to gossip, usually in a disdainful way; to bitch about; to speak ill of someone behind their back [with über (+ accusative)]
    Wir lästern doch gar nicht, wir unterhalten uns nur.
    We’re not gossiping, we’re just talking.

Conjugation

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Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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  • lästern” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • lästern” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • lästern” in Duden online