zergen

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German

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Low German tergen, or possibly from Middle High German *zergen, from Old High German zergen (to irritate, tease, provoke), from Proto-West Germanic *targijan, from Proto-Germanic *targijaną. Cognate with Dutch tergen and English tarry.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈzɛʁɡn̩/
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

zergen (weak, third-person singular present zergt, past tense zergte, past participle gezergt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (archaic or regional) to tease, to provoke
    Synonyms: reizen, necken, quälen
    • 1666, Georg Neumark, “Die verfuͤhreriſche”, in Poetisch-Historischer Lustgarten:
      Da Sie dieß ausgeredt / hat sie die böse Schlangen / Das mörderische Thier zu zärgen angefangen / Sie aber wehrt sich nicht / ja zweifelt auch dabey / Ob solch ein zarter Leib mit Gift zu tödten sey.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Conjugation

Further reading