empfand

Empfand is the Präteritum (simple past) form of the German verb empfinden. Empfinden means to sense, feel, or perceive something, whether physical sensations or emotional states, and can also refer to forming an impression or opinion about something.

Etymology and nuance: The verb combines the prefix em- with finden or fühlen, and has a long-standing use in expressing inward perception. It is often more formal or literary than the everyday fühlen, and it is common in written narration to describe internal experiences, sensations, or judgments. In many contexts it collocates with adjectives, nouns, or clauses that specify what is being felt or perceived.

Grammar and forms: Infinitiv: empfinden. Präteritum: empfand. Partizip II: empfunden. The auxiliary for perfect tense is haben, as in ich habe empfunden, du hast empfunden, er hat empfunden, etc. Empfinden is transitive and takes a direct object or a complement, for example: Ich empfand Schmerz; Ich empfand Freude; Ich empfand das als ungerecht.

Usage notes and examples: Empfinden commonly describes physical sensations (Schmerz, Wärme) as well as emotional or moral judgments (Mitgefühl, Ungerechtigkeit). Examples: Er empfand Schmerz nach dem Sturz. Sie empfand tiefe Dankbarkeit. Wir haben das als unfair empfunden. The noun Empfinden refers to the act or state of feeling, as in das Empfinden von Schmerz oder der gesellschaftlichen Empfindungen.

Related terms: Empfindung (noun, feeling or sensation), Empfindlichkeit (sensitivity), fühlen (to feel in a broader or more physical sense), wahrnehmen (to perceive).

Overall, empfand is primarily used in past narrative to express a person’s perceived inner state or judgment, with empfunden (Perfekt) and empfundenen forms common in contemporary prose.