erloschen

Erloschen is a German verb meaning to go out, to extinguish, or to fade away. It is commonly used for fires, flames, or lights that stop burning, as in Das Feuer ist erloschen. The verb can describe a physical cessation as well as a figurative one, such as a dwindling hope or a fading memory.

Grammatical notes: The base verb is erlöschen. In everyday use the present tense is erlöscht, the simple past is erlosch, and the present perfect is ist erloschen. As a past participle, erloschen is used attributively or in compound tenses, for example eine erloschene Glut (an extinguished ember) or Das Feuer ist erloschen. The adjective form erloschen is common in written and spoken German to describe something that has lost its brightness or vitality.

Etymology and usage: Erlöschen derives from the prefix er- added to lösch- (from löschen, to extinguish). The prefix bracket signals a completed or resulting state. The term is widely applicable across domains: a lamp erlischt when its flame dies, a volcano may erlöschen after a long period of activity, and a once-vibrant tradition can erlöschen over time.

Metaphorical use: Beyond physical extinguishment, erloschen can describe the end of influence, life, or memory, e.g., eine erloschene Episode or erloschene Sterne. It is often contrasted with verbleiben or aufleben, which denote persistence or revival.

See also: löschen, auslöschen, aufleben.