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Vergehen

misdemeanour

noun fer-GAY-en Rare

Also means

offence

Usage Note

Vergehen is a lesser criminal offence, in German law one punishable by less than a year or by a fine. It contrasts with Verbrechen, the serious category. As a verb sich vergehen means to offend or, of time, to pass. The noun is neuter.

Examples

"Es handelte sich nur um ein geringfuegiges Vergehen."

Natural Translation

It was only a minor offence.

Literal Translation

It dealt itself only around a minor offence.

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