stehenden Fußes
German
Etymology
Calque of Medieval Latin stante pede (literally “with one’s foot standing still”), a medieval juridical term meaning "on the spot, without having left the court". The translation (18th century) uses an adverbial genitive, a construction that in contemporary German occurs but in a few fixed expressions. Cognate with Dutch op staande voet.
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Adverb
- (literary, otherwise humorous) on the spot
- Synonyms: auf der Stelle; stante pede, stantepe
- Als mir das Bild zum Kauf angeboten wurde, kaufte ich es stehenden Fußes.
- When I was offered to buy the painting, I bought it on the spot.
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