hochstehende

Hochstehende is the attributive form of the German adjective hochstehend, formed from hoch (high) and stehen (to stand). It is used to describe something that stands tall or, figuratively, something that has high status or prestige. The term can denote physical elevation as well as social or cultural standing.

In usage, hochstehende describes both literal height and figurative prominence. For example, in architecture one might speak of hochstehende Gebäude (tall, prominent buildings) or hochstehende Türme. In a social or cultural context, phrases such as hochstehende Kreise or eine hochstehende Gesellschaft refer to high-status circles or society with elevated prestige. The meaning is determined by the surrounding noun and context and can vary from architectural descriptions to discussions of social hierarchies.

Grammatically, hochstehende follows standard German adjective inflection. It appears in attributive position before a noun, with endings that depend on gender, number, and article. For instance: der hochstehende Mann, die hochstehende Frau, das hochstehende Haus (singular with definite article); die hochstehenden Häuser (plural). With no definite article, examples include ein hochstehendes Gebäude, zwei hochstehende Gebäude, eine hochstehende Pflanze. The form hochstehende therefore serves as the base form for several inflected forms in common usage.

In summary, hochstehende describes things that are physically elevated or symbolically prestigious, and it is a versatile, frequently used adjective in German.