Zehren

Zehren is a German verb meaning to feed on, to derive nourishment, or more broadly to be sustained by something. Its literal sense involves consumption of food, but the term is frequently used metaphorically to describe sources of support, energy, or pleasure that keep a person going over time.

Common constructions include zehren von + D, meaning to derive sustenance from something, and zehren an + D, meaning to draw strength or consolation from something. Examples: "Er zehrt von den Erinnerungen" and "Sie zehrt von dem Ruhm vergangener Tage." These usages emphasize a continuing dependence on or benefit from a source, rather than a one-off act of eating.

Origin and usage: The word is of Germanic origin and is attested in German from older periods, though today it appears most often in literary, historical, or formal prose rather than in everyday speech. In contemporary language, speakers may prefer more common verbs such as ernähren or nähren for physical sustenance, or interpretive phrases like profitieren from a source of support.

In English-language writing, zehren is typically translated as "to feed on" or "to derive nourishment from," used mainly in translations, scholarly works, or discussions of German literature and language. It retains a somewhat literary or elevated tone outside of direct German usage.