bloß

See also: bloss

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle High German bloß, from Old High German blōz (bare, naked), from Proto-Germanic *blautaz (void, emaciated, soft), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlaw- (weak, frightened). Cognate with Dutch bloot (bare, naked), Danish blød (soft, weak), Swedish blott (merely, just), French blouse. More at blouse.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bloːs/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -oːs

Adjective

bloß (comparative bloßer, superlative am bloßesten)

  1. mere, sole
  2. bare, uncovered, nude

Declension

Adverb

bloß

  1. merely, only
    Synonym: nur
    • 1915, Franz Kafka, Der Prozess, Verlag: Die Schmiede (1925), page 68:
      K. hatte sich entschlossen, mehr zu beobachten als zu reden, infolgedessen verzichtete er auf die Verteidigung wegen seines angeblichen Zuspätkommens und sagte bloß: „Mag ich zu spät gekommen sein, jetzt bin ich hier.“
      K. had decided to observe more than speak, consequently he abstained from the defense about his alleged coming late and only said: : „May I have come too late, now I am here.“
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