barmhjertig

Danish

Etymology

From Middle Low German barmhertich, originally a compound of arm (“poor”) +‎ hert (“heart”) +‎ -ich, from Proto-West Germanic *arm + *hertā + *-g, like German barmherzig, from Old High German armherz.

In both branches of German, we have b- from the verb vorbarmen, erbarmen (“have mercy”) (hence Danish forbarme). The adjective is a calque of Latin misericors, possibly under the influence of Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐌼𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌹𐍂𐍄𐍃 (armahairts).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [b̥ɑːmˈjaɐ̯d̥i]

Adjective

barmhjertig (neuter barmhjertigt, plural and definite singular attributive barmhjertige)

1. merciful, charitable, compassionate

   Synonym: miskundelig

Inflection

Inflection of barmhjertig

	positive	comparative	superlative
indefinite common singular	barmhjertig	mere barmhjertig	mest barmhjertig2
indefinite neuter singular	barmhjertigt	mere barmhjertig	mest barmhjertig2
plural	barmhjertige	mere barmhjertig	mest barmhjertig2
definite attributive1	barmhjertige	mere barmhjertig	mest barmhjertige

¹ When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite,
the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
² The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

Derived terms

• barmhjertighed

References

• “barmhjertig” in Den Danske Ordbog

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Middle Low German barmhertich.

Adjective

barmhjertig (neuter singular barmhjertig, definite singular and plural barmhjertige)

1. merciful, kind, kind-hearted, compassionate

   en barmhjertig samaritan ― a Good Samaritan

Derived terms

• den barmhjertige samaritan

See also

• miskunnsam (Nynorsk)

References

• “barmhjertig” in The Bokmål Dictionary.