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jählings

suddenly, precipitously

adverb YAY-lings Rare

Also means

abruptly (especially of a fall)

Usage Note

Jählings (related to jäh, abrupt) is literary and somewhat old-fashioned. It typically describes sudden physical downfall or steep decline — jählings in die Tiefe stürzen — and can describe emotional collapse. Found mainly in elevated or narrative prose.

Examples

"Er stürzte jählings von der Leiter."

Natural Translation

He plunged suddenly from the ladder.

Literal Translation

He fell precipitously from the ladder.

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