afbryde

Afbryde is a Danish verb meaning to interrupt, to cut off, or to disconnect a process, conversation, or connection. It can refer to interrupting speech, halting a transmission, disconnecting power, or ceasing an activity. In everyday language it is used both transitively (afbryde noget) and in fixed phrases (afbryde forbindelsen, afbryde udsendelsen). The noun form is afbrydelse, referring to the act or result of causing an interruption or disconnection.

Etymology: The word is built from the prefix af-, meaning off or away, attached to bryde meaning to break; cognates exist in Swedish avbryta and Norwegian avbryta. The root bryde is related to Old Norse brjóta.

Conjugation: Present tense afbryder; past tense afbrød; supine/participles include afbrudt. The imperative form is afbryd, as in the command to stop something, for example afbryd forbindelsen.

Usage notes: Afbryde samtale means to interrupt a conversation; one might say “Han afbrød hende midt i sætningen.” In media and telecommunications, afbryde refers to stopping a transmission: “Lydsignalet blev afbrudt.” In technical contexts, it commonly means to disconnect a circuit or network: “Afbryd strømmen,” “Afbryd forbindelsen.”

See also: afbrydelse (interruption, disconnection), afbryder (interrupter), afslutte (to finish).