schildern

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃɪldɐn/

• Audio

  (file)

Etymology 1

17th century, from Dutch schilderen (“to paint, picture”), in part through Middle Low German schildern. Equivalent to Schild (“shield”) +‎ -er (agent suffix) +‎ -n. From the painting of coats of arms on shields and related objects.

Verb

schildern (weak, third-person singular present schildert, past tense schilderte, past participle geschildert, auxiliary haben)

1. (transitive) to depict (with words), to narrate, tell vividly

   Synonyms: beschreiben, darstellen

   Der Autor schildert die Erlebnisse seines Helden in bunten Farben.

   The author depicts his hero’s adventures in vivid colours.

2. (transitive, archaic) to depict (by illustration), to paint, draw

Conjugation

Derived terms

• Schilderung

Etymology 2

From Schild (“shield”) +‎ -ern (iterative suffix). Formed directly, not borrowed.

Verb

schildern (weak, third-person singular present schildert, past tense schilderte, past participle geschildert, auxiliary haben)

1. (hunting, of partridges etc.) to be in full feather and have a characteristic spot on the breast
2. (obsolete) to stand guard, to patrol

Conjugation

Related terms

• ausschildern

Further reading

• “schildern” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “schildern” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “schildern” in OpenThesaurus.de
• “schildern, Rebhuhn verfärben” in Duden online
• “schildern, beschreiben, darstellen” in Duden online