verb

rasten

rest

Definition & meaning

The German verb rasten primarily means to take a rest, to pause, or to stop for a break during a journey or physical activity. It implies a temporary cessation of movement to recover energy.

There is a secondary, more specialized meaning related to mechanics: it refers to the act of clicking or locking a device into a specific position (like a gear or a dial). In this context, it describes the mechanism falling into a notch.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

It is a regular (weak) verb: rasten – rastete – hat gerastet.
It is usually used intransitively (without an object) when referring to resting.

Origin:

The word originates from the Middle High German rasten, which is derived from the noun Rast (rest/break). It is related to the Old High German rasta, which originally referred to a distance one traveled before taking a rest, similar to the concept of a "stage" or "mile."