Scheiden

Scheiden is a verb used in Dutch and German with the general sense of separating, detaching, or parting. The term applies to both physical and abstract divisions, such as separating two objects, ending a relationship, or distinguishing between elements. In both languages, the noun form related to the end of a marriage is a common and everyday use.

In German, the verb underlies the noun Scheidung, which denotes divorce. The standard expression to dissolve a marriage is sich scheiden lassen, and a formal divorce is referred to as eine Scheidung. Beyond the marital sense, scheiden also appears in more general contexts of separation or division, though in many technical or scientific uses other verbs or nouns may be preferred depending on the precise meaning.

In Dutch, scheiden similarly covers separation and divorce. The common noun for divorce is echtscheiding. Dutch also uses scheiden in broader contexts such as the separation of parts of a whole or of different groups, and in phrases like scheiding der machten (separation of powers). The verb participates in various compound forms that emphasize the aspect of removing or separating components.

Etymology and related terms: Scheiden originates from Germanic roots associated with cutting or dividing. Related words include Scheiding in German and scheiding or echtscheiding in Dutch, both referring to separation or divorce in their respective languages. Prefixes and related verbs exist in both languages to express similar or more specific senses, such as abscheiden (to deposit or excrete) in German or ont-scheiden (to separate out) in Dutch.

Notes: The term “Scheiden” is primarily encountered as a general concept of separation, with its strongest everyday associations in the contexts of divorce (Scheidung in German, echtscheiding in Dutch) and the broader usage of separating parts, substances, or groups.