verstümmeln
to mutilate
To severely and permanently damage a body by severing, destroying, or disfiguring body parts.
EXAMPLE
Bei dem Unfall wurde seine Hand schrecklich verstümmelt.
His hand was terribly mutilated in the accident.
verstümmeln
to mutilate
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Meanings
verstümmeln
to mutilate
In a figurative sense: to alter something such as a text, piece of music, or work of art so drastically and badly that the original form or meaning is destroyed.
EXAMPLE
Die gekürzte Fassung des Romans hat die Geschichte des Autors völlig verstümmelt.
The abridged version of the novel completely mutilated the author's story.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verstümmeln' (to mutilate) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all tenses and sentence constructions.
EXAMPLE
Die Zensur hat den kritischen Artikel völlig verstümmelt.
The censorship completely mutilated the critical article.
Word formation
The prefix 'ver-' often indicates a negative result or a mistake. The stem 'stümmeln' is related to 'Stummel' (stump). So 'verstümmeln' (to mutilate) means to damage something so badly that only an incomplete remnant remains.
EXAMPLE
Er hat den Namen des Autors so furchtbar ausgesprochen, dass er ihn regelrecht verstümmelt hat.
He pronounced the author's name so terribly that he practically mutilated it.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning of the verb from the object. If it refers to a body or living being, the literal meaning is intended. If it refers to a work such as a text, song, or film, the figurative meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Die Maschine hat seine Hand verstümmelt.
The machine mutilated his hand.
Typical collocations
In the figurative sense, 'verstümmeln' (to mutilate) is often used for creative or intellectual works. Typical combinations are 'einen Text verstümmeln' (to mutilate a text), 'ein Kunstwerk verstümmeln' (to mutilate a work of art), or also 'einen Namen verstümmeln' (to mangle a name, through incorrect pronunciation).
EXAMPLE
Die gekürzte TV-Version hat den Film leider völlig verstümmelt.
Unfortunately, the shortened TV version completely mutilated the film.
Compare with
verstümmeln vs entstellen
to disfigure / distort
Both words can describe a major change to a text or work of art. „Verstümmeln“ emphasizes that poor alterations largely destroy the original form or meaning. „Entstellen“ more specifically means falsifying the original meaning or the truth through a misrepresentation.
verstümmeln
Die vielen Kürzungen verstümmelten den Roman so stark, dass die Handlung kaum noch verständlich war.
The many cuts mutilated the novel so badly that the plot was barely understandable.
entstellen
Die gekürzte Aussage entstellte den ursprünglichen Sinn des Gesprächs.
The shortened statement distorted the original meaning of the conversation.
In real life
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