Erstarrar

Erstarrar is a German verb that translates to "to stiffen," "to freeze," or "to become rigid" in English. It describes a state of immobility or a process of becoming immobile. This immobility can be physical, mental, or emotional.

Physically, erstarrar can refer to a body becoming stiff, perhaps due to cold, rigor mortis, or fear. For example, someone might erstarrar when they are suddenly frightened. A plant can also erstarrar in freezing temperatures.

Metaphorically, erstarrar can describe a person's thoughts or emotions becoming fixed or unyielding. Someone might feel mentally erstarrar when faced with a difficult problem, unable to think of solutions. It can also describe a situation or system that has become stagnant and resistant to change. For instance, a bureaucracy might be described as having erstarrar, meaning it has become inflexible and slow-moving.

The past participle of erstarrar is erstarrt, meaning "stiffened," "frozen," or "rigid." This can be used to describe a state of being. For example, "Das Wasser ist erstarrt" means "The water has frozen." The concept of erstarrar implies a loss of fluidity, flexibility, or responsiveness.