Element

See also: element and élément

German

Etymology

From Middle High German element, from Latin elementum (see further etymology there).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /e.leˈmɛnt/, [e-], [ˌɛ-], [ˌeː-], [-le-], [-lə-]
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

Element n (strong, genitive Elementes or Elements, plural Elemente)

  1. (chemistry) element
  2. element; essential component
  4. (chiefly in the plural) force of nature; the elements
    Die Elemente schienen sich gegen die Schiffsbesatzung verschworen zu haben.
    The elements seemed to have conspired against the ship’s crew.
  5. (chiefly in the plural and with adjectives) a person, especially viewed as a member of a destructive or criminal group or movement
    Unter den Anhängern dieses Vereins gibt es gewaltbereite Elemente.
    Among the supporters of this club there are individuals who are prone to violence.
    Wir stehen hier kriminellen Elementen gegenüber, die genau wissen, was sie tun.
    We are faced in this with criminal people (or simply: criminals) who know exactly what they are doing.

Declension

Declension of Element [neuter, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Element die Elemente
genitive eines des Elementes, Elements der Elemente
dative einem dem Element, Elemente1 den Elementen
accusative ein das Element die Elemente

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

Further reading

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