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unberufen. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
unberufen, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
unberufen in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
unberufen you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From German unberufen (“let it not be called down on me”).
Interjection
unberufen
- (dated) Touch wood; knock on wood; an injunction to fate that nothing will go wrong.
1883, Rhoda Broughton, Belinda:"Unberufen ! " cries Sarah, with a shudder that is not all affectation, " do not mention that accursed name ; I could have sworn that I heard her voice just now !"
1904, Ralph Henry Barbour, Kitty of the roses:" Unberufen !" he cried. "Unberufen!" she echoed. Then their glances met and they laughed...
1905, Anna Chapin Ray, Hamilton Brock Fuller, On the Firing Line, EBook edition, Project Gutenberg, published 2009:Bending over, Ethel turned back the cloth and thumped on the under side of the table. / "Unberufen and Absit omen," she said hastily. "Don't tempt Providence too far, Captain Frazer. …"
1920, Percy Lubbock, editor, The Letters of Henry James:And I am working so well (unberufen!) with my admirable Secretary; I shouldn't really dare to ask her to join our little caravan...
German
Etymology
un- + berufen
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈʊnbəˌʁuːfn̩/, /ʊnbəˈʁuːfn̩/
- Hyphenation: un‧be‧ru‧fen
Adjective
unberufen (strong nominative masculine singular unberufener, not comparable)
- unallowed, unauthorized
Declension
Positive forms of unberufen (uncomparable)
Interjection
unberufen
- (dated) touch wood, knock on wood
Further reading
- “unberufen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “unberufen” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon