Wergeld

See also: wergeld

German

Alternative forms

  • Wehrgeld (unofficial, but common especially in older sources)

Etymology

From Middle High German wergelt, from Old High German werigelt, from Proto-West Germanic *werageld (literally “man-money”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈveːrˌɡɛlt/
  • Hyphenation: Wer‧geld
  • Audio (Germany (Berlin)):(file)

Noun

Wergeld n (strong, genitive Wergeldes or Wergelds, plural Wergelder)

  1. blood money, wergeld, diyya
    Synonyms: Blutgeld, Manngeld

Declension

Declension of Wergeld [neuter, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Wergeld die Wergelder
genitive eines des Wergeldes, Wergelds der Wergelder
dative einem dem Wergeld, Wergelde1 den Wergeldern
accusative ein das Wergeld die Wergelder

1Now rare, see notes.

Descendants

  • → Russian: ве́ргельд (vérgelʹd)

Further reading

  • “Wergeld” in Duden online
  • “Wergeld” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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