hæmme

Hæmme is a Danish verb meaning to hinder, impede, or restrain, typically by slowing a process rather than stopping it completely. It is used across scientific, medical and economic contexts, as well as in everyday language to describe actions that reduce activity, growth, or spread.

Examples of usage include: “Strenge tiltag har hæmmet spredningen af sygdommen.” or “Forskningen blev hæmmet af mangel på data.” In biology and medicine, hæmning refers to inhibition of a process, such as enzymhemming or hæmning af vækst.

Grammatically, the infinitive is at hæmme; present tense forms include hæmmer, and the simple past tense is hæmmede. The perfect participle is hæmmet, used with have (har hæmmet). The noun form is hæmning (an inhibition or hampering), and the adjective hæmmende describes something that inhibits.

Etymology-wise, the word derives from older Danish and is cognate with related Germanic roots meaning to restrain or hold back; it is related to similar terms in other Scandinavian languages and German. It is often distinguished from hindre or forhindre by implying a partial or temporary restriction rather than complete prevention.

See also: hæmning; hæmmende; hindre; forhindre; begrænse; enzymhemming.