Hervorstehende

Hervorstehende is a German attributive form derived from the verb hervorstehen, meaning to stand out or protrude. The present participle part of the verb yields an adjective that describes something that literally protrudes or figuratively draws attention. In usage, hervorstehende appears as an attributive adjective whose ending changes with gender, number, and case.

In practice, hervorstehende is common in references to physical features and to distinctive characteristics. For example: eine hervorstehende Nase (a protruding nose), ein hervorstehendes Kinn (a prominent chin), die hervorstehenden Knochen (the protruding bones). Plural or definite-article forms follow standard German adjective declension: die hervorstehenden Ohren (the protruding ears), hervorstehende Merkmale (outstanding features).

Etymology and meaning: the prefix hervor- adds a sense of outward prominence, while stehen is the verb to stand. The overall sense is that something stands out from its surroundings, either physically or in a figurative sense such as notable traits or features. In this respect, synonyms include auffällig, markant, and herausragend, though these terms carry slightly different nuances.

Usage notes: hervorstehende can describe anatomical features, material projections, or distinguishing traits in descriptions, biology, art, and design. It is generally neutral and informative in tone. While the form can also appear as a noun in rare cases (the Hervorstehenden), the common usage remains as an attributive adjective.