verb

ermatten

become exhausted · grow weary · flag

Definition & meaning

The word "ermatten" primarily means to grow weary, to become tired, or to lose physical or mental strength. It describes a process of gradual exhaustion where energy or intensity fades away.

It can be used in several contexts:

Physical exhaustion: Describing a person or animal becoming weak due to exertion or illness.
Diminishing intensity: Describing abstract things, such as interest, enthusiasm, or a physical force like the wind, as they lose their power or vigor.
Transitive use: Less commonly, it can mean to make someone else tired or to exhaust them, though "ermüden" is more frequent for this purpose.

Grammar & Word origin

"Ermatten" is a weak verb. Its principal parts are "ermattet" (third-person singular present), "ermattete" (simple past), and "ist ermattet" (present perfect when used intransitively) or "hat ermattet" (when used transitively).

The word is a derivative of the adjective matt, which means dull, faint, or weak. The prefix er- is used here to indicate a transition into a specific state—in this case, the state of being "matt."