Augenblicks

Augenblicks is the genitive singular form of the German noun Augenblick, which means a moment or a brief period. In contemporary standard German, the typical genitive construction is des Augenblicks; Augenblicks commonly appears as a bound form in compounds or in older or more literary styles. The word Augenblick itself derives from Augen (eye) and Blick (glance), signaling a moment experienced as if seen with the eye.

In everyday language, Augenblick is used to refer to a short time span, as in im Augenblick (at the moment) or in einem Augenblick (in a moment). The prefix form Augenblicks- is productive in German and attaches to other nouns to create new compounds that denote something pertaining to a moment or to a fleeting occurrence. Examples in practice include Augenblicksgefühl (the feeling associated with a moment) or Augenblicksaufnahme (a shot captured at a specific moment). The exact set of compounds varies by speaker, register, and context, but the pattern remains a common way to convey immediacy or temporariness.

In philosophy and literary usage, Augenblick can appear in discussions of time, presence, and perception, often emphasizing the ephemeral nature of experience. The possessive or genitive use (des Augenblicks) remains the standard way to express “of the moment,” while Augenblicks- compounds broaden the expressive range around the concept of a fleeting instant.

See also: Augenblick, Moment, Zeit.