German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Literally, "far-fetched", as in English. One of the two may have influenced the other, though the German is certainly not a recent anglicism. The similarity may also be coincidental or there may be some classical basis.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /vaɪ̯tˈheːr.ɡəˌhoːlt/, [väe̯tˈheːɐ̯.ɡəˌhoːlt], [ʋäe̯t-], [-ˈhɛɐ̯-]
  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

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weit hergeholt (strong nominative masculine singular weit hergeholter, comparative weiter hergeholt or (informal) weit hergeholter, superlative am weitesten hergeholt or (informal) am weit hergeholtesten)

  1. far-fetched (rather unlikely; resting the truth of several unknowns)
    Synonym: (usually stronger) an den Haaren herbeigezogen

Usage notes

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  • Prescriptively speaking, the compared forms with a final ending should only exist in the univerbal spelling (weithergeholter, am weithergeholtesten), but weit hergeholter, am weit hergeholtesten are also found.

Declension

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