Zerberus

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Cerberus, from Ancient Greek Κέρβερος (Kérberos).

Proper noun

Zerberus m (proper noun, strong, genitive Zerberus)

  1. (Greek mythology) Cerberus (mythological three-headed dog)
    • 2013 May 5, Sandra Luzina, “Ballett im Berghain”, in Die Zeit‎:
      Diesmal muss kein tätowierter Türsteher überwunden werden, der wie ein Zerberus vor dem Einlass wacht.
      This time, no tattooed bouncer has to be overcome, who watches over the entrance like a Cerberus.

Noun

Zerberus m (strong, genitive Zerberus, plural Zerberusse)

  1. (humorous) doorkeeper, guardian
    • 1968 October 11, Adolf Metzner, “Die Panzer stehen schon bereit”, in Die Zeit:
      Neugierige kamen trotz aller Tricks nicht ins Dorf, so wachsam waren die uniformierten Zerberusse.
      Despite all the tricks, curious people did not come into the village, the uniformed doorkeepers were so vigilant.

Declension
Declension of Zerberus [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Zerberus die Zerberusse
genitive eines des Zerberus der Zerberusse
dative einem dem Zerberus den Zerberussen
accusative einen den Zerberus die Zerberusse

Further reading
  • “Zerberus” in Duden online
  • “Zerberus” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.