zeitweise

Zeitweise is a German adverb meaning for a period of time, temporarily, or at times. It is used to describe states or events that occur only during certain intervals or that are not constant. For example: "Es war zeitweise sonnig" (There were periods of sunshine), "Die Strecke war zeitweise gesperrt" (The route was temporarily closed), or "Er war zeitweise krank" (He was ill for a while). Zeitweise can modify verbs, adjectives, or whole clauses, contributing a temporal nuance to the statement.

Etymology and form: Zeitweise is a compound of Zeit (time) and weise (a suffix meaning in the manner or way). The word has been part of standard German since the early modern period and is closely related to the adjective zeitweilig, which carries a similar meaning but is typically used attributively (as in zeitweilige Abänderungen). Another common synonym is vorübergehend, though vorübergehend emphasizes temporary duration and may carry a more formal tone.

Usage and nuance: Zeitweise often implies intermittency or incomplete duration rather than a single, continuous period. It can appear in formal or semi-formal writing as well as in everyday speech. In more formal or precise contexts, equivalents such as vorübergehend or temporär may be preferred. In casual speech, phrases like "jetzt und dann" or "hin und wieder" may convey a similar sense of occasional occurrence.

See also: zeitweilig, vorübergehend, temporär, hin und wieder. Zeitweise remains a neutral, versatile term for describing temporary or intermittent states in German.