to cancel / devalue
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to cancel
To invalidate a ticket, stamp, or voucher, usually with a stamp, punch, or printed mark. This indicates that it has already been used.
Bitte entwerten Sie Ihre Fahrkarte am Automaten, bevor Sie in den Zug steigen.
Please cancel your ticket at the machine before boarding the train.
The verb is made up of the prefix 'ent-' and the noun 'Wert' (value). The prefix 'ent-' here means 'to take away' or 'to cancel out'. So 'entwerten' (to cancel / devalue) literally means to take something's value away.
Durch die Digitalisierung wurden viele alte Medien entwertet.
Digitalization devalued many old media.
'Entwerten' (to cancel / devalue) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ent-' is not separated from the verb stem in any sentence form.
Der Schaffner entwertete meine Fahrkarte mit einer Zange.
The conductor canceled my ticket with a punch.
You can recognize the meaning from the object: If it is a ticket, stamp, or voucher, 'entwerten' (to cancel) means making it invalid. If it is money, savings, an achievement, or an argument, the figurative meaning 'to reduce the value' is intended.
Ich habe vergessen, meinen Gutschein vor dem Einkauf zu entwerten.
I forgot to cancel my voucher before shopping.
In the meaning of 'making invalid', the verb is used almost exclusively with objects such as 'Fahrkarte' (travel ticket), 'Ticket' (ticket), 'Briefmarke' (stamp), or 'Gutschein' (voucher). It is often seen as an imperative instruction on machines.
Die alten Briefmarken müssen vor dem Versand entwertet werden.
The old stamps must be canceled before mailing.
to reduce
'mindern' and 'entwerten' can both have to do with a lower value. 'mindern' generally means that value, effect, extent, or strength becomes smaller. 'entwerten' is stronger: something loses its value or significance greatly, sometimes almost completely. It fits, for example, with money, arguments, achievements, or objects. In addition, 'entwerten' has a fixed meaning for tickets or vouchers: they are made invalid by a stamp or printed mark. If something merely becomes less, 'mindern' fits. If the value is clearly destroyed or something is made invalid, 'entwerten' fits.
Vor der Fahrt musst du das Ticket am Automaten entwerten.
Before the trip, you have to cancel the ticket at the machine.
Kleine Kratzer mindern den Wert des Fahrrads.
Small scratches reduce the value of the bicycle.