krümmen

Krümmen is a German verb that translates to "to bend," "to curve," or "to crook." It describes the action of making something into a bent or curved shape. This can apply to physical objects, such as bending a piece of metal, or to abstract concepts, like bending the rules.

The word originates from the Middle High German "krümmen" and Old High German "krüben," which themselves are related to the concept of crookedness or bentness. It is a common verb in everyday German and can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, one might say "Er krümmte den Draht" (He bent the wire) or "Die Straße krümmt sich um den Berg" (The road curves around the mountain).

In a figurative sense, "krümmen" can imply distortion or deviation from a standard. For instance, "Er würde sich nicht krümmen" means "He wouldn't lift a finger," suggesting an unwillingness to exert any effort or make any concessions. It can also refer to a physical act of making oneself smaller or lower, such as "sich krümmen vor Schmerz" (to writhe in pain). The word's versatility allows it to describe both literal and metaphorical bending.