German word

heimsuchen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈhaɪ̯mˌzuːxən/

Meaning

  • verbplague

Example

Viele Städte wurden von der Seuche heimgesucht.

Many cities were plagued by the disease.

Illustration for heimsuchen (plague)

More examples

Die Region wurde nach der Krise von Armut heimgesucht.

The region was plagued by poverty after the crisis.

Core concept

An unwanted force keeps returning to a town or person as if it knows the way home.

Common phrases

  • eine Region heimsuchen

    plague a region

  • von Armut heimgesucht werden

    be plagued by poverty

Similar words

befallen: To affect a person or place suddenly with illness, pests, or another harmful force.
verseuchen: To pollute a place or object with harmful substances or microorganisms.
plagen: To trouble someone repeatedly or over a long period.

Definition in German

Jemanden oder einen Ort durch Krankheit, Unglück oder ein wiederkehrendes Übel treffen oder quälen; oft in passiver Form verwendet.

Word origin

The compound verb heimsuchen is built from Heim ('home') and suchen ('seek'), with an older visiting sense that developed into the modern sense of afflicting.

Usage tips

  • In passive sentences, the affected person or place commonly appears after von, as in von der Seuche heimgesucht werden.

Other meanings

  • troubleverb
  • tormentverb
  • attackverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Heimsuchungplaguenoun
  • heimgesuchtafflictedadjective

Word lists with this word