widerfahren
happen
Etwas passiert oder geschieht einer Person, oft ohne dass sie es erwartet oder beeinflussen kann.
Definition & meaning
The verb widerfahren is used to describe something, usually an event or experience, that happens to someone, typically without their influence or active participation. It is often used in the context of things that happen to a person, whether positive or negative, but frequently with a sense of destiny or fate.
- To happen or occur to someone: It describes an experience that comes upon a person. For example, "It happened to him" (Es ist ihm widerfahren).
- To experience or endure: It implies that the person is the recipient of an action or event rather than the initiator.
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- widerfahren is an intransitive verb.
- It requires the dative case (jemandem widerfahren).
- It is a strong verb and forms its perfect tense with "sein": ist widerfahren.
- It is inseparable, meaning the prefix "wider-" remains attached in all conjugations.
Word origin: The word is composed of the prefix wider- (meaning against, or in this context, moving towards/meeting) and the Old High German faran (to travel, to go, to happen). Historically, it implies something that "comes towards" or "meets" someone on their path. Note that the prefix wider- here should not be confused with wieder- (meaning again).
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms: While there is no direct lexical antonym, one could contrast it with verbs denoting active creation or intentional action:
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Examples
Uns wird etwas Ähnliches widerfahren.verb
Something similar will happen to us.
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