zu Füßen

• zu Füssen (Switzerland, Liechtenstein)

From Middle High German ze vüezen (literally “to feet”). Also in the sense of “on foot, afoot”, which is now distinguished as singular zu Fuß.

• IPA^(key): /tsu ˈfyːsən/

zu Füßen

1. at the feet of
   1. (literally, with dative or genitive/possessive) near someone’s feet

      Er kniete ihr zu Füßen.
      Er kniete zu ihren Füßen.

      He was kneeling at her feet.

      Ihr zu Füßen lag ein zerknüllter Brief.
      Zu ihren Füßen lag ein zerknüllter Brief.

      At her feet lay a crumpled letter.

   2. (figurative, with dative) as someone’s devoted lover, worshipper, disciple

      Er lag ihr zu Füßen.

      He was at her feet.

   3. (figurative, higher register, with genitive/possessive) below, at something’s lower end

      Synonyms: am Fuß(e), unterhalb, unten an

      Das Hotel liegt zu Füßen des Felsens.

      The hotel is located at the foot of the rock.

• As indicated above, both constructions are possible in the literal meaning. In figurative use, the dative construction is associated with the “devoted” sense, while the genitive/possessive construction is associated with the “below” sense.