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ersatz

 - 7 dictionary results

er⋅satz

[er-zahts, -sahts, er-zahts, -sahts]
–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. 2010.
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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'
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Word Origin & History

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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