Begehrte

Begehrte is a German term with several related uses connected to desire. As a verb form, it is the simple past (Präteritum) of begehren: ich begehrte, du begehrtest, er begehrte, wir begehrten, ihr begehrtet, sie begehrten. This form describes a completed act of desiring in the past. The past participle of begehren is begehrt, which functions as an adjective or part of compound tenses.

Begehrte can also appear as part of adjectives and nouns. The adjectival form begehrt means “desired” or “coveted,” as in ein begehrtes Objekt or eine begehrte Stellung. The noun das Begehrte, a nominalized form, refers to the thing that is desired or sought after; it is used in formal, literary, or legal contexts to denote the coveted object or goal.

Etymology and relatives: begehrt derives from begehren, meaning to desire or crave. Related terms include begehrenswert (desirable), begehrlichkeit (desirability), and related compounds that convey levels of desire or value.

Usage notes: In contemporary everyday language, speakers more commonly use present-tense forms or synonyms for desire. The past-tense begehrte appears primarily in literary, historical, or narrative texts, while das Begehrte tends to appear in formal writing or discussions of goals, objects, or statuses that are valued or pursued.

Examples:

- Er begehrte den Schmuck und kaufte ihn schließlich.

- Das Begehrte blieb unerreicht.

- Sie strebte nach einer begehrten Stelle.