German edit

Etymology edit

From Middle High German bevlecken, from Old High German gifleckōn. By surface analysis, be- +‎ Fleck +‎ -en.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): [bəˈflɛkn̩]
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: be‧fle‧cken
  • Rhymes: -ɛkn̩

Verb edit

beflecken (weak, third-person singular present befleckt, past tense befleckte, past participle befleckt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive) to stain, to discolor (e.g. a piece of clothing)
    Synonym: besudeln
  2. (transitive, figurative) to stain, to tarnish (e.g. reputation)
    Synonyms: besudeln, entehren

Conjugation edit

Further reading edit

  • beflecken” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • beflecken” in Duden online
  • beflecken” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon