erquicken

German

Etymology

From Middle High German erquicken, from Old High German irquicken. Equivalent to er- +‎ quick (lively) +‎ -en. The simplex quick is Low German, but in the verb the -i- is due to regular lack of a-mutation.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛɐ̯ˈkvɪkn̩/
  • Audio:(file)
  • IPA(key): /ɛɐ̯ˈkvɪkŋ̩/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: er‧qui‧cken

Verb

erquicken (weak, third-person singular present erquickt, past tense erquickte, past participle erquickt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (formal) to refresh, revive
    Synonym: erfrischen
    • 1808, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Vorspiel auf dem Theater”, in Faust: Der Tragödie erster Teil [Faust, Part One]‎[1]:
      ...viel Irrthum und ein Fünkchen Wahrheit, so wird der beste Trank gebraut, der alle Welt erquickt und auferbaut.
      ...much error and a spark of verity, thus can the best of drinks be brewed, who refreshes and builds up the whole world.

Conjugation

Derived terms

  • erquicklich
  • Erquickung

Further reading

  • erquicken” in Duden online
  • erquicken” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache