Behuf

German

Etymology

From Middle High German behuof, from Old High German *bihuof, from Proto-West Germanic *bihōf.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /bəˈhuːf/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Behuf m (strong, genitive Behufes or Behufs, plural Behufe)

  1. (literary in expressions with zu, otherwise obsolete) purpose, aim
    • 1851, Heinrich Heine, “Waldeinsamkeit”, in Romanzero‎, Hamburg: Hoffmann und Campe, Zweites Buch: Lamentationen, page 121:
      Sie unterbrachen manchmal das Gesinge / Lautlachend, und frugen bedenkliche Dinge, / Zum Beispiel: »Sag uns, zu welchem Behuf / Der liebe Gott den Menschen schuf?
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Declension
Declension of Behuf [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Behuf die Behufe
genitive eines des Behufes, Behufs der Behufe
dative einem dem Behuf, Behufe1 den Behufen
accusative einen den Behuf die Behufe

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

Further reading
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