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ersatz - 7 dictionary results

er⋅satz

  [er-zahts, -sahts, er-zahts, -sahts]
Use ersatz in a Sentence
–adjective
1. serving as a substitute; synthetic; artificial: an ersatz coffee made from grain.
–noun
2. an artificial substance or article used to replace something natural or genuine; a substitute.
Origin:
1870–75; < G Ersatz a substitute (deriv. of ersetzen to replace)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ersatz
er·satz   (ěr'zäts', ěr-zäts')   
adj.  Being an imitation or a substitute, usually an inferior one; artificial: ersatz coffee made mostly of chicory. See Synonyms at artificial.

[German, replacement, from ersetzen, to replace, from Old High German irsezzan : ir-, out; see ud- in Indo-European roots + sezzan, to set; see sed- in Indo-European roots.]
er'satz' n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry:  ersatz1
Part of Speech:  adj
Definition:  substitute, artificial and often inferior; using substitute components
Etymology:  German 'replacement'
Main Entry:  ersatz1
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  an artificial substitute; imitation
Etymology:  German 'replacement'
Main Entry:  ersatz2
Part of Speech:  adj
Definition:  simulated, counterfeit
Etymology:  German 'replacement'
Main Entry:  ersatz2
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  something similar in a superficial way
Etymology:  German 'replacement'
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2009 Dictionary.com, LLC
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ersatz 
1875, from Ger. Ersatz "units of the army reserve," lit. "compensation, replacement, substitute," from ersetzen "to replace."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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