entgleitet

Entgleiten is a German verb meaning to slip away, to escape one’s grasp, or to be lost from someone’s reach. It denotes the failure to retain or hold onto something—whether a physical object slipping from the hand, an opportunity that passes by, or a memory or moment that disappears. The construction is commonly with a dative experiencer: Die Zeit entgleitet mir; Die Gelegenheit entgleitet ihm.

Origin and form: The word is formed from the prefix ent- and gleiten (to glide). The related noun Entgleiten (das Entgleiten) refers to the act or phenomenon of slipping away, often used in formal or scholarly prose.

Usage: Entgleiten is more literary or formal and may not be frequent in everyday speech, where speakers might use verlieren, entgehen, verfehlen, or entkommen depending on nuance. It should not be confused with entgleisen, a term used for derailing (especially trains or machinery).

Examples: Die Erinnerung entgleitet mir. Die Zeit entgleitet ihm. In literary or analytical contexts, the word can describe how control, opportunities, or memories elude someone despite effort.