stehenden Fußes

stehenden Fußes

German

Etymology

Calque of Medieval Latin stante pede (literally “with one’s foot standing still”), a medieval juridical term meaning "on the spot, without having left the court". The translation (18th century) uses an adverbial genitive, a construction that in contemporary German occurs but in a few fixed expressions. Cognate with Dutch op staande voet.

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Adverb

stehenden Fußes

1. (literary, otherwise humorous) on the spot

   Synonyms: auf der Stelle; stante pede, stantepe

   Als mir das Bild zum Kauf angeboten wurde, kaufte ich es stehenden Fußes.

   When I was offered to buy the painting, I bought it on the spot.