Machtergreifung

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word Machtergreifung. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word Machtergreifung, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say Machtergreifung in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word Machtergreifung you have here. The definition of the word Machtergreifung will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofMachtergreifung, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

German

Etymology

Macht (“power”) +‎ Ergreifung (“seizure”), (from ergreifen (“seize”) + -ung (resultative verbal noun)), 19th century.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈmaχtʔɛɐ̯ˌɡʁaɪ̯fʊŋ/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: Macht‧er‧grei‧fung
  • Rhymes: -aɪfʊŋ

Noun

Machtergreifung f (genitive Machtergreifung, plural Machtergreifungen)

  1. (historical) seizure of power, specifically in reference to Hitler's appointment as chancellor on 30 January 1933
    Synonyms: Machtübernahme, Machtübertragung
    • 1858, Allgemeine österreichische Zeitung, cited in Schwäbischer Merkur 13 October 1858, 1093
      Das Vertrauen, mit dem ihm seine Unterthanen entgegenkommen, ist ein unbegrenztes, und die Befriedigung über seine Machtergreifung ist eine fast ausnahmslose.
      The confidence which is extended to him by his subjects is unlimited, and the gratification felt at his taking over the reins of power is all but universal.
    • 1957, Karl Dietrich Bracher, Nationalsozialistische Machtergreifung und Reichskonkordat: ein Gutachten zur Frage des geschichtlichen Zusammenhangs und der politischen Verknüpfung von Reichskonkordat und nationalsozialistischer Revolution, Isar Verlag, page 948:
      [...] der pseudolegal verbrämte Prozeß der Machtergreifung und die Durchlöcherung der Weimarer Verfassung in den ersten Monaten des "Dritten Reiches" [...]
      the pseudo-legally embellished process of the seizure of power and the hollowing out of the Weimar constitution during the early months of the 'Third Reich'
    • 1970, Ladislaus Singer, Sowjetimperialismus, page 93:
      Trotzki, Sinowjew und Kamenew erleichterten Stalins Machtergreifung, denn keiner von ihnen sah in ihm einen Rivalen für die Erbfolge.
      Trotsky, Zinovyev and Kamenev facilitated Stalin's seizure of power, as none of them saw him as a rival in the order of succession.

Usage notes

Since the 1970s the terms Machtübertragung "transfer of power", "transition of power" or Machtübernahme "acquisition of power" have been more commonly used as the unmarked terms for the (peaceful) transition of political power, as Machtergreifung has become strongly associated with 20th-century totalitarianism.

Declension

Declension of Machtergreifung
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Machtergreifung die Machtergreifungen
genitive einer der Machtergreifung der Machtergreifungen
dative einer der Machtergreifung den Machtergreifungen
accusative eine die Machtergreifung die Machtergreifungen

Further reading

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia