Wurm

See also: wurm

German

Etymology

From Middle High German wurm, from Old High German wurm, from Proto-Germanic *wurmiz, from Proto-Indo-European *wr̥mis. Cognate with Dutch worm, English worm, West Frisian wjirm, Danish orm, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌼𐍃 (waurms).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /vʊrm/, [vʊʁm], [vʊɐ̯m], [ʋ-]
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Wurm m or (alternatively when meaning "baby, mite") n (strong, genitive Wurmes or Wurms, plural Würmer or (archaic) Würme, diminutive Würmchen n or Würmlein n)

  1. (biology) worm
  2. (informal) maggot, grub
  3. (archaic) any crawling animal, e.g. a reptile
    Synonym: Kriechtier
  4. (poetic, heraldry) dragon, lindworm, wyrm
    Synonyms: Drache, Lindwurm
  5. (computing) worm
  6. (colloquial, endearing) a baby or small child; a mite; any helpless creature

Usage notes
  • The word is generally masculine in all senses. When meaning “baby, mite”, it may alternatively be neuter.
  • The normal plural is Würmer. The form Würme is archaic; it might still see some usage in the heraldic sense.

Declension
Declension of Wurm [masculine // neuter (alternatively when meaning "baby, mite"), strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der, das Wurm die Würmer, Würme2
genitive eines des Wurmes, Wurms der Würmer, Würme2
dative einem dem Wurm, Wurme1 den Würmern, Würmen2
accusative einen, ein den, das Wurm die Würmer, Würme2

1Now rare, see notes.
2Archaic.

Further reading

Saterland Frisian
n Wurm (1).
n Wurm (2).
n Wurm (3).

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old Frisian worm, from Proto-West Germanic *wurmi. Cognates include West Frisian wjirm and German Wurm.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /vʊrm/
  • Hyphenation: Wurm
  • Rhymes: -ʊrm

Noun

Wurm m (plural Wurme)

  1. worm
  2. mite
  3. moth

Noun

Wurm n (plural Wurme)

  1. a miserable child
    Dät litje Wurm is heel un aal allänig! ― The poor little child is completely alone!

References
  • Marron C. Fort (2015) “Wurm”, in Saterfriesisches Wörterbuch mit einer phonologischen und grammatischen Übersicht, Buske, →ISBN
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