zerren

German

Etymology

From Middle High German zerren, from Old High German zerren, from Proto-Germanic *tarjaną, and hence a doublet of German zehren. The geminated -rr- is irregular and probably intensive (compare the same in Middle Low German terren, Middle Dutch terren, both alongside tēren). Compare English tear.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtsɛrən/, [ˈtsɛʁən], [tsɛɐ̯n]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Homophone: zehren (by the monosyllabic pronunciation)

Verb

1. to tug
2. to drag

Derived terms

• Zerren
• Zerrung

Further reading

• “zerren” in Duden online