English Explanatory Dictionary

verklempt

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Overcome with emotion, choked up.
  2. Flustered, nervous, overwhelmed.

Pronunciation

/fəˈklɛm(p)t/ /və-/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-verklempt.wav /fɚˈklɛm(p)t/ /vɚ-/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-JutishMale-verklempt.wav

Word forms

verklempt more verklempt most verklempt faclempt faklempt farklempt ferklempt verklemmt

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish פֿאַרקלעמט (farklemt, “depressed, distraught; choked up”). The English spelling was influenced by the German prefix ver- corresponding to Yiddish פֿאַר־ (far-). German verklemmt (“uptight”, literally “jammed”) is formally cognate, but semantically unrelated; a closer match is beklommen (“anxious, despondent”). Popularized by a 1990s sketch comedy series.

Synonyms

angstful apprehensive anxious careful concerned distraught disturbed edgy fraught freaked out hagridden high-strung jittery jumpy leery nervous nervy on edge perturbable restless skittish spookish squeamish tied in knots twitchy uneasy unquiet verklempt worried worrisome worryful
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