stehenden Fußes

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German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Calque of Medieval Latin stante pede (literally with one’s foot standing still), a medieval juridical term meaning "on the spot, without having left the court". The translation (18th century) uses an adverbial genitive, a construction that in contemporary German occurs but in a few fixed expressions. Cognate with Dutch op staande voet.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (file)

Adverb[edit]

stehenden Fußes

  1. (literary, otherwise humorous) on the spot
    Synonyms: auf der Stelle; stante pede, stantepe
    Als mir das Bild zum Kauf angeboten wurde, kaufte ich es stehenden Fußes.
    When I was offered to buy the painting, I bought it on the spot.