wappnen

Wappnen is a German verb meaning to arm, equip with weapons, or prepare for conflict or defense. It can be used transitively (to arm someone or something) as in to arm an army, and reflexively (to arm oneself) as in preparing for an anticipated threat. The term can also carry a broader, figurative sense of fortifying or equipping for a challenge, beyond mere weaponry.

Etymology and usage history are somewhat uncertain. The word is generally linked to the semantic field of weapons and defense, and it appears in historical and literary German texts. In modern standard usage, wappnen is relatively uncommon; more frequent in historical descriptions, scholarly writing on military history, or stylistically formal contexts. The related form bewappnen is sometimes preferred in contemporary language to convey a stronger or more formal sense of fortification or armament.

Grammatical notes: wappnen is a regular verb. Present tense: ich wappe, du wappnest, er/sie/es wappnet, wir wappen, ihr wappnet, sie wappnen. Past tense and participles follow the standard pattern: wappnete, gewappnet. Reflexive use: sich wappnen (gegen etwas) means to prepare oneself against something, as in sich gegen eine Bedrohung wappnen.

See also: Waffe, Wappen (coat of arms), Bewappnen, Rüstung, Armee, Belagerung. Wappnen remains mainly a term of historical or literary relevance in contemporary German.