verteidigen

Meaning

  1. (transitive, weak) to defend (from attack)
  2. (weak) to justify (an opinion, behavior, etc.)

Frequency

B2
Pronounced as (IPA)
/fɛɐ̯ˈtaɪ̯dɪɡən/
Etymology

In summary

From Middle High German verteidingen from vertagedingen, derived from teidinc, tagedinc (originally "judgment", then "talk, chatter", so Narrenteiding (“foolish chatter”)) of tac (“day”) and ding (“negotiation”). By surface analysis, ver- + Tag + Ding + -en. The term developed semantically from "court day with negotiations" > "to defend in court" > "to defend". Cognate with Dutch verdedigen.

Notes

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