zweckentfremden

German

Etymology

From the expression etwas seinem Zweck entfremden (literally to alienate something from its purpose). Historically, either from Zweck + entfremden or by backformation from Zweckentfremdung.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈtsvɛk.ɛntˌfrɛmdən/, [ˈt͡sʋɛk.ʔɛntˌfrɛm.dn̩], [ˈt͡sʋɛ.kɛnt-], [-dən]
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: zweck‧ent‧frem‧den

Verb

zweckentfremden (weak, third-person singular present zweckentfremdet, past tense zweckentfremdete, past participle zweckentfremdet, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive) to repurpose (use something for a purpose other than the originally intended one)
    Synonyms: umnutzen, umfunktionieren
  2. (often more negative) to misuse, use wrongly
    Synonyms: missbrauchen, Schindluder treiben

Conjugation

Further reading

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