belämmert

Meaning

Verb

past participle of belämmern

Adj

1. perplexed; in a sudden state of confusion (e.g. through a lack of concentration, or shock)
2. intimidated, discouraged, disheartened
3. (colloquial) stupid, silly, crazy (interchangeable with behämmert)

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bəˈlɛmɐt/

Etymology

Past participle of the rarer verb belämmern or belemmern (“to annoy", "to molest”), from Middle Low German belemmeren. The verb pertains to lahm (“lame”) and is cognate with Dutch belemmeren (“to hamper”). The semantic development of the adjective in German is, at least in part, due to association with Lamm (“lamb”, plural Lämmer), a supposedly naïve or stupid animal. Hence also the folketymological reform spelling with -ä-.