vergattern

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German

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /fɛɐ̯ˈɡatɐn/, /fɐ-/

Etymology 1

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From Middle High German vergatern (to assemble), a chiefly Central German word alongside Middle Low German gāderen. Cognate to Dutch vergaderen, English forgather. In a military context the word originally meant “to line up troops and issue the orders”. It may later have been associated with Gatter (grating, fence), thus “to give someone a boundary that must not be transgressed”. Compare etymology 2 below.

Verb

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vergattern (weak, third-person singular present vergattert, past tense vergatterte, past participle vergattert, auxiliary haben)

  1. (military, transitive) to officially commit a soldier to sentry duty and to the respective regulations
    Nachdem der Soldat vergattert worden ist, muss er sich unter allen Umständen an die Wachbefehle halten.
    When a soldier has been officially committed to sentry duty, he must observe the orders to sentry under any circumstances.
  2. (colloquial, transitive) to impose a duty or punishment on someone [with zu]
    Meine Mutter vergattert mich immer zum Rasenmähen.
    My mother always makes me mow the lawn.
Conjugation
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Derived terms
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Etymology 2

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From Middle High German vergetern, derived from gater (grating, fence), whence modern Gatter (idem). The modern verb form without umlaut was derived through adaptation to the noun.

Verb

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vergattern (weak, third-person singular present vergattert, past tense vergatterte, past participle vergattert, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive) to barricade; to separate with a grating or fence
Conjugation
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