angerührt

Angerührt is the past participle of the German verb anrühren. It derives from the prefix an- with rühren, meaning to touch, mix, or stir, and has both literal and figurative uses. As a participle it forms perfect tenses with haben (Ich habe die Sauce angerührt) and can appear in passive constructions (Die Sauce wurde angerührt).

In culinary contexts angerühren describes the act of mixing ingredients together, often with liquids, to create a sauce, broth, or batter. The term emphasizes the action of stirring or combining rather than heating or cooking alone. It is commonly found in recipes and cooking instructions.

In a figurative sense angerührt means emotionally moved or touched by something. This usage is usually seen in phrases like von etwas angerührt sein, meaning one has been affected or moved by an event, story, or person. Compared with berührt or gerührt, angerührt tends to be more literary or formal and can convey a stronger sense of emotional impact.

Usage notes: as an adjective or participle, angerührt is primarily used with the agent performing the action (something is angerührt) or with the experiencer of emotion (I am angerührt by...). It is distinct from, yet related to, related verbs such as rühren, berühren, and gerühren, which cover physical stirring, touching, and emotional nuance in slightly different shades.

See also: anrühren, rühren, berühren.