schwärmen

From Middle High German swermen (“to swarm”), from Old High German swermen (“to swarm”), derived from swarm (“swarm of bees”), whence modern German Schwarm (“swarm; flock of birds”). The figurative senses developed in Early Modern German via “to deviate from the established dogma or school of thought”.

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃvɛrmən/, [ˈʃʋɛʁ-], [ʃʋɛɐ̯-], [-mən], [-mn̩], [-mm̩]

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schwärmen (weak, third-person singular present schwärmt, past tense schwärmte, past participle geschwärmt, auxiliary haben)

1. (of birds and insects) to swarm; to fly in swarms or flocks

   Die Bienen schwärmen.

   The bees swarm.

2. to romanticize; be given to romantic or mystic thoughts

   Synonym: schwelgen

   Er saß am Ufer und schwärmte vor sich hin.

   He was sitting at the shore, romanticizing by himself.

3. to adore; fancy (to be romantically attracted by someone, often without making advances) [with für]

   Er schwärmte heimlich für sie.

   He secretly adored her.

4. to gush; to rave about; to be enthusiastic about [with von]

   Er schwärmte lautstark von ihr.

   He was raving loudly about her.

5. (informal) to praise highly; extol [with von]

   Viele Menschen schwärmen vom Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen in Deutschland.

   Many people extol the health and social services in Germany.

• Schwarm

• “schwärmen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “schwärmen” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “schwärmen” in Duden online
• “schwärmen” in OpenThesaurus.de