Ergriffenen

Ergriffenen is the plural inflected form of the German participial adjective ergriffen, derived from the verb ergreifen (to seize or to seize emotionally). In modern German, ergriffen functions both as a past participle and as an adjective. When used attributively with a definite article, it takes the ending -en in plural: die ergriffenen Kinder. In singular form, you would typically see der ergriffene Mann or das ergriffene Kind; with an indefinite article the endings vary (einen ergriffenen Mann).

The word also exists as a nominalized form: Ergriffene or Ergriffene, with capitalization, referring to people who have been seized or who have been emotionally affected. In plural, die Ergriffenen is a common construction in historical, legal, or journalistic contexts to denote those who have been captured, detained, or otherwise affected by an event.

Usage notes:

- Physical capture: der Ergriffene can mean a person who has been seized or apprehended.

- Emotional impact: ergriffen can describe someone who is deeply moved, with the dependent plural form appearing as die Ergriffenen when used as a noun.

- Distinction: Ergriffen as adjective describes state or action (the seized or moved), while Ergriffene as a noun specifically names the people who share that state.

Examples:

- Die ergriffenen Kinder wurden sicher betreut. (The seized children were looked after safely.)

- Die Ergriffenen wurden vor Gericht gestellt. (The seized/affected persons were brought to court.)

- Nachdem er die Nachricht gehört hatte, war er völlig ergriffen. (After hearing the news, he was completely moved.)

Etymology and related forms:

- Root verb: ergreifen, past participle ergriffen.

- Related forms include ergreifen (to seize), ergriffen (adjective/participle), and the nominalized Ergriffene/Ergriffenen.