demütiger

Demütiger is a German term that functions primarily as the comparative form of the adjective demütig, meaning more humble. In everyday language, demütiger is used in ordinary comparative constructions, as in er wurde demütiger (“he became more humble”). The word can also appear as a noun in literary or archaic contexts, Der Demütiger, to denote a person who embodies humility or to personify the quality itself; this nominal use is rare in modern German and tends to occur in religious, philosophical, or poetic texts.

Etymology and grammar: Demütiger is formed from the stem demütig plus the standard suffix -er. The usual superlative form is am demütigsten. When used as a noun, Demütiger is capitalized, and its exact meaning depends on context—often referring to a person characterized by humility rather than to the abstract trait alone.

Usage and context: In German-language literature and historical writings, the Demütiger may appear as a character or as a rhetorical device to emphasize humility. In contemporary prose and speech, however, the adjective is more commonly used in its comparative sense rather than as a noun.

See also: Demütig, Demut, Humility in philosophy and religion.