entbehren
to do without
To have to go without something that one actually needs or wants. It is often felt as a lack or loss.
EXAMPLE
Als Student musste er viele Annehmlichkeiten entbehren.
As a student, he had to do without many comforts.
entbehren
to do without / lack
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Meanings
entbehren
to lack
To lack a particular quality, basis, or logic; not to possess it. This use is formal and is often found in the phrase 'etwas entbehrt jeder Grundlage' (something lacks any basis).
EXAMPLE
Diese Anschuldigung entbehrt jeder Grundlage.
This accusation lacks any basis.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Entbehren' (to do without / lack) is an inseparable verb with the prefix 'ent-'. This prefix often expresses removal or lack, which fits the meaning 'to have to do without something' or 'not to have something'.
EXAMPLE
In der Not mussten die Menschen lange Zeit ärztliche Hilfe entbehren.
In times of need, people had to do without medical help for a long time.
Use with the accusative
The verb 'entbehren' (to do without / lack) is used directly with an accusative object. You do not need an additional preposition.
EXAMPLE
Auf der langen Wanderung entbehrten wir jeglichen Komfort.
On the long hike, we did without any comfort.
Elevated style
'Entbehren' (to do without / lack) belongs to elevated written language and is rather rarely used in everyday conversation. It sounds more formal and detached.
EXAMPLE
Der Autor schreibt, die Hauptfigur habe in ihrer Kindheit jede Zuneigung entbehrt.
The author writes that the main character lacked all affection in her childhood.
Fixed expressions
In the meaning 'not to possess', the verb is often used in fixed expressions. Very typical are 'jeder Grundlage entbehren' (to lack any basis) or 'jeder Logik entbehren' (to lack any logic).
EXAMPLE
Die Gerüchte über die Firma entbehren jeder Grundlage.
The rumors about the company lack any basis.
Compare with
entbehren vs fehlen
to be absent / to be missing
Fehlen generally says that something is not present; the missing thing is the subject. Entbehren is formal in this meaning, and the thing or statement that lacks a basis is the subject. The main differences are therefore style and sentence structure.
entbehren
Der Bericht entbehrt jeder sachlichen Grundlage.
The report lacks any factual basis.
fehlen
Dem Bericht fehlt jede sachliche Grundlage.
The report has no factual basis whatsoever.
In real life
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