entbehre

Entbehren is a German verb meaning to lack or be deprived of something one needs or desires. It is a formal or literary term and is commonly used with a genitive object, as in ich entbehre der Gesellschaft (I am deprived of company) or er entbehrt der Ruhe (he lacks peace). The construction with a genitive object distinguishes entbehren from many other verbs that express lack.

Etymology and forms: The verb originates from historical Germanic roots and appears in older and literary texts. In modern usage, the present indicative forms include ich entbehre, du entbehrst, er entbehrt, wir entbehren, ihr entbehrt, sie entbehren, while entbehre also appears as the present subjunctive form in indirect discourse. The noun form often used is Entbehrung, referring to deprivation or lack.

Usage and nuance: Entbehren conveys a sense of deprivation that is actual or perceived, often in a philosophic, moral, or emotional register. It commonly describes missing essential needs, such as Sicherheit (security), Hilfe (help), or Gesellschaft (company). It can express passive deprivation, as in a person entbehrt der Gesellschaft, or active absence, as in Zeiten der Knappheit, in denen viele entbehren müssen. Its tone is more formal and literary than everyday synonyms like fehlen or mangeln.

Related terms: Entbehrung (deprivation), entbehren von is a related construction, and entbehren der Hilfe is a typical usage. In contrast, modern everyday language more often uses fehlen or vermissen for temporary or emotional absence.

See also: Entbehrung, fehlen, mangeln, vermissen.