Behuf
German
Etymology
From Middle High German behuof, from Old High German *bihuof, from Proto-Germanic *bihōfą (“behoof, profit, need”). Cognate with Old High German bihuobida (“need”), Middle Low German behōf (“behoof, advantage”), Dutch behoefte (“need”), English behoof (“advantage, benefit, need”). More at behoof.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /bəˈhuːf/
Audio (file)
Noun
Behuf m (genitive Behufs or Behufes, plural Behufe)
- (literary in expressions with zu, otherwise obsolete) purpose, aim
Declension
Declension of Behuf
| 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 uncommon, see notes
Derived terms
- behufs
Further reading
- “Behuf” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- Behuf in Duden online
- “Behuf” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.