Trümmer

German

Etymology

Plural of Trumm (Middle High German drum, Old High German trum, Proto-Germanic *þrum-), which has acquired a separate meaning. The Middle High German plural was drum or drumer, Early Modern High German trumer, trumeren, trummer, trimmer, trümmern. The new singular Trümmer (either feminine, masculine or neuter) arises in the 18th century (Klopstock). The singular remained in common use until the end of the 19th century. In the 20th century, use as plurale tantum became prevalent, and use as a singular is now dated.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [ˈtʀʏmɐ]
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Trümmer n pl (plural only); Trümmer m (genitive Trümmers, plural Trümmer); Trümmer f (genitive Trümmer, plural Trümmern)

  1. ruins, debris, wreckage, remains, fragments
    • 1780, Klopstock, Messias 172:
      […] zu stehn auf der flammenden Trümmer [fem. sg.] seines Tempels […]
      […] to stand on the flaming ruins of their [the people's] temple […]
    • 1796, Goethe, Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre:
      […] brachten nur wenige Trümmer ihrer Besitztümer davon.
      [the refugees] only saved a few fragments of their possessions
    • 1864, Eichendorff, Sämtliche Werke 3, 295:
      Die Trümmer des alten Schlosses Dürande sehen über die Wipfel in die Einsamkeit hinein
      the ruins of old Dürande castle look out over the tree-tops into solitude
    • 1905, Mörike, Gesammelte Schriften 3, 41:
      Keine Stunde hielt es an, bis die Mühle borst in Trümmer.
      before the end of an hour, the mill collapsed in ruins

Derived terms

Noun

Trümmer

  1. plural of Trumm

References
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