düster

Alternative forms

• deister (Moselle Franconian)

Etymology

From north-western Middle High German diuster, from Old High German thiustri, from Proto-West Germanic *þiustrī.

While Standard German düster is a borrowing from Low German, the word is native in Central Franconian and some bordering dialects of Rhine Franconian; compare Luxembourgish däischter.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdyːstʌ/

Adjective

düster (masculine düstere, feminine düster, comparative düsterer, superlative et düsterste)

1. (Ripuarian) dark (without light)

   Synonym: donkel

   • 2006, “Happy End”‎performed by BAP:

     Ich jläuv, die Klappsetz wore rut bespannt.
     Ich ben nit secher, doch ich jläuv met Samp.
     Vürhang met Stääne drop,
     ’T wood düster un hä jing op.

     I think the folding seats were covered in red.
     I’m not sure, but I think in velvet.
     A curtain with stars on it,
     All went dark and then it opened.

Alternative forms

• duster (chiefly in the literal sense and more informal)

Etymology

From Middle Low German dûster, from Old Saxon thiustri, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *þiustrī (“dark, without light”). The word also exists in parts of West Central German (compare Luxembourgish däischter), which probably facilitated the borrowing; but the standardised form is definitely from Low German in view of its lacking diphthongisation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdyːstər/, [ˈdyːstɐ]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: düs‧ter; before the 1996 reform: dü‧ster

Adjective

düster (strong nominative masculine singular düsterer, comparative düsterer or düstrer, superlative am düstersten)

1. dark, dim, gloomy, obscure
2. (figurative) cheerless, melancholy, somber

Further reading

• “düster” in Duden online
• “düster” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Alternative forms

• duster

Etymology

From Middle Low German dü̂ster, from Old Saxon thiustri (“dark”). Akin to Old High German dinstar.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdystə/
• IPA^(key): /ˈdystæ/ (Mecklenburg)

Adjective

düster

1. dark, obscure
2. cheerless, melancholy, somber
3. of no good intention, evil