German

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Etymology

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From Middle High German vertrëten, from Old High German firtretan, from Proto-West Germanic *fratredan. By surface analysis, ver- +‎ treten. Compare Dutch vertreden.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ferˈtreːtən/, [fɐˈtʁeː.tn̩], [fɛɐ̯-]
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: ver‧tre‧ten

Verb

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vertreten (class 5 strong, third-person singular present vertritt, past tense vertrat, past participle vertreten, past subjunctive verträte, auxiliary haben) (transitive)

  1. to step in, fill (a stead, gap)
    Er vertritt die Stelle des Direktors.He fills the director’s stead.
  2. (by elision, more common) to fill in for, to substitute
    Er vertritt den Direktor.He fills in for the director.
  3. (by extension) to represent
    Synonym: repräsentieren
    Der Anwalt vertritt seinen Mandanten.The lawyer represents his client.
    Die Sportlerin hat ihr Land würdig vertreten.The sportswoman represented her country worthily.
  4. (by further extension) to advocate, defend (a cause), to hold (an opinion)
    Der Anwalt vertritt die Rechte seines Mandanten.The lawyer advocates his client’s rights.
    Ich vertrete die Meinung, dass...I hold the opinion that...
  5. (with reflexive dative + die Beine/Füße (plural), or (dated) reflexive) to go for a walk (especially after a long period of sitting)
    Ich habe mir im Park die Füße vertreten.I went for a little walk in the park.
    Ich habe mich im Park vertreten.(idem)
  6. (with reflexive dative + das/den Bein/Fuß/Knie/Knöchel (singular)) to sprain one’s leg/foot/knee/ankle
    Synonym: (more common) verstauchen
    Ich habe mir im Park den Fuß vertreten.I’ve sprained my foot in the park.

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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