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Verklempt

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September 17, 2017, 20:28
Kalleh
Verklempt
I read an article today about the editor who is leaving Glamour Magazine, and she said "I am sure I will be, in my grandmother's words, 'highly verklempt'." I had to look it up. It's a Yiddish word (love them!) for being overwhelmed by emotion. Have you heard it before? What English word might be the nearest to it?
September 17, 2017, 20:44
goofy
The Yiddish is פֿאַרקלעמט (farklemt), related to German verklemmt "inhibited, uptight". German klemmen "to pinch" is cognate with English clamp.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: goofy,
September 18, 2017, 10:13
goofy
This dictionary say farklemt is "depressed, distraught; choked up, extremely emotional, on the verge of tears; grieving" and klemen is "to grieve".

http://yiddishdictionaryonline.com
September 18, 2017, 19:55
Kalleh
Here is the Grammarist on it. Clearly the writer's grandmother was using it to mean overwhelmed by emotion.
September 27, 2017, 08:16
arnie
quote:
What English word might be the nearest to it?

How about "distraught"?


Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
September 27, 2017, 12:22
<Proofreader>
Or maybe one of these ("overwrought" is my choice).

1. agitated
2. overwrought
3. dismayed
4. despairing
5. distressed
6. upset
7. troubled
8 disconsolate
9. bereft

 
 
September 28, 2017, 20:07
Kalleh
I suppose, but are any of those passionate enough in tone?