belämmert

• belemmert (pre-1996 reform spelling)

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-.

• IPA^(key): /bəˈlɛmɐt/

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belämmert

1. past participle of belämmern

belämmert (strong nominative masculine singular belämmerter, comparative belämmerter, superlative am belämmertsten)

1. perplexed; in a sudden state of confusion (e.g. through a lack of concentration, or shock)

   Könnten Sie das bitte noch mal wiederholen? Ich war gerade etwas belämmert.

   Could you please repeat that once more? I had lost my concentration for a second.

   Nach dem Abpfiff war ich völlig belämmert. Ich erinnere mich kaum an die Siegerehrung.

   When the match was over, I was completely perplexed. I hardly remember the award ceremony.

2. intimidated, discouraged, disheartened

   Nach seiner Entlassung kam er ziemlich belämmert nach Hause.

   After his dismissal he came home quite disheartened.

3. (colloquial) stupid, silly, crazy (interchangeable with behämmert)

   Bist du total belämmert?! Was machst du da?!

   Are you completely out of your mind?! What are you doing?!

• The spelling belämmert has been the prescribed spelling since the German spelling reform of 1996 (the Rechtschreibreform). In the affected areas, the previous spelling (belemmert) is now less common, and may be regarded as a misspelling.

belämmert

1. inflection of belämmern:
   1. third-person singular present
   2. second-person plural present
   3. plural imperative
   4. preterite participle

• “belämmert” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache