gescheit

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle High German geschīde (sensible, sly). Related with scheiden (to separate, distinguish).[1] Based on the notion of “prudent, circumspect” it was associated with scheuen (to shun, shy away) and therefore frequently spelt gescheut. The -t thence and through generalisation of final devoicing. Cognate with Vilamovian gysiajt, Bavarian gscheid, and Swabian gscheid.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɡəˈʃaɪ̯t/
  • (file)

Adjective

gescheit (strong nominative masculine singular gescheiter, comparative gescheiter, superlative am gescheitesten)

  1. (of people, actions) clever, intelligent, wise
    Synonyms: intelligent, klug, schlau, weise
  2. (informal, of things) reasonable, proper, decent, useful
    Synonyms: ordentlich, vernünftig

Usage notes

  • The sense “clever” is used more in the southern half of German-speaking Europe. In the north, it is fairly rare and found chiefly in negation, e.g. nicht mehr gescheit sein (to have lost one's mind).

Declension

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Derived terms

References

  1. Friedrich Kluge (1883), gescheit”, in , John Francis Davis, transl., Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, published 1891

Further reading

  • gescheit” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Luxembourgish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɡəˈʃɑɪ̯t/

Adjective

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  1. clever, intelligent

Declension

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