Polyglot Dictionary

entgegnen

/ɛntˈɡeːɡnən/

verb B1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

V Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Common Domain General Tone Neutral

Forms

present (3rd sg.)
entgegnet
past
entgegnete
perfect
hat entgegnet

Meaning

  1. to reply, to retort

    More formal/literary than antworten — often used in narration for a sharp or pointed reply.

    • "Das stimmt nicht", entgegnete sie.

      "That's not true," she retorted.

    • „Das stimmt nicht", entgegnete er ruhig. Dann erklärte er seine Sicht.

      "That is not true," he replied calmly. Then he explained his view.

V Category Action Concreteness Concrete Agency Voluntary Duration Durative Transitivity Transitive

Similar words

antworten

antworten is the neutral word for "to answer"; entgegnen is more literary, often implying a sharp or contradicting reply.

Practice

1 What does entgegnen mean?

2 Fill the gap: "Das stimmt nicht", ___ sie.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches entgegnen?

verb

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