belämmert

== German == === Alternative forms === belemmert (pre-1996 reform spelling) === Etymology === 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 folk-etymological reform spelling with -ä-. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bəˈlɛmɐt/ === Participle === belämmert past participle of belämmern === Adjective === belämmert (strong nominative masculine singular belämmerter, comparative belämmerter, superlative am belämmertsten) perplexed; in a sudden state of confusion (e.g. through a lack of concentration, or shock) intimidated, discouraged, disheartened (colloquial) stupid, silly, crazy (interchangeable with behämmert) ==== Usage notes ==== 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. ==== Declension ==== === Verb === belämmert inflection of belämmern: third-person singular present second-person plural present plural imperative preterite participle === Further reading === “belämmert” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache