Vormund
German
Etymology
From Middle High German vormunde, from Old High German foramunto, a compound of fora (“before, in front of”, whence German vor) + munt (“hand; protection; guardianship”). In contemporary understanding typically reanalyzed as vor + Mund (“mouth”, unrelated with the former word), thus “who speaks in someone’s stead” (or “who speaks before someone can speak for themself”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfoːɐ̯ˌmʊnt/, /ˈfɔɐ̯ˌmʊnt/
Audio (file)
Noun
Vormund m (genitive Vormunds or Vormundes, plural Vormunde or Vormünder)
- legal guardian
Declension
Declension of Vormund
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | der | Vormund | die | Vormunde |
| genitive | eines | des | Vormundes, Vormunds | der | Vormunde |
| dative | einem | dem | Vormund, Vormunde1 | den | Vormunden |
| accusative | einen | den | Vormund | die | Vormunde |
1Now uncommon, see notes
Declension of Vormund
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | der | Vormund | die | Vormünder |
| genitive | eines | des | Vormundes, Vormunds | der | Vormünder |
| dative | einem | dem | Vormund, Vormunde1 | den | Vormündern |
| accusative | einen | den | Vormund | die | Vormünder |
1Now uncommon, see notes
Derived terms
- Vormundschaft
Related terms
- mündig