eigenhändig

Eigenhändig is a German adverb that translates to "personally," "by one's own hand," or "hands-on." It emphasizes direct personal involvement in an action or task, indicating that something was done without the assistance of others or through intermediaries.

The term is often used in legal and official contexts to denote that a signature or a document was personally executed by the individual concerned. For example, a contract might require an eigenhändig unterschrift, meaning a signature made by the person themselves. This distinguishes it from a signature made by an authorized representative or through electronic means.

Beyond legal applications, eigenhändig can describe any activity performed by oneself. Someone might describe their gardening as eigenhändig, meaning they did all the work themselves. Similarly, a craftsman might pride themselves on the eigenhändig construction of their work, highlighting the personal effort and skill invested. The adverb conveys a sense of direct action, responsibility, and individual accomplishment. It underscores the absence of delegation or external help in the execution of a task.