Moribund, the Burgermeister

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi, anybody familar with the words “Burgermeister” and “Bundershaft”? I wasn?t able to figure their meanings out.

Thanks in advance

Michael

2

Hi Michael

I assume you’re talking about something you read in English. Burgermeister in English sounds like it would be someone who is some kind of hamburger champion. :lol:

I have no idea what a Bundershaft might be, though.

Amy

3

Hi Amy!

Moribund, the Burgermeister is the name of a song of Master Peter Gabriel!

I also wonder whether moribund is an adjective or an order? :roll:

Your solution concerning the Hamburger champion is quite good. :lol: I was thinking that Burgermeister might refer to the German complement of mayor (townheader) :roll:

Well, I?m also eager to see whether anybody could clarify the third expression!

See you

Michael

4

Hi Michael

That is what my sleepy mind assumes: in the line given below

“Moribund” stands for a noun (substantivised adjective, in my opinion) with ‘the Burgermeister’ as an apposition.

Maybe, 'Moribund" is an antonomasia.

Just thinking aloud and nothing more. :slight_smile:

5

Are you referring to Peter Gabriel’s song? I also wonder what he meant by ‘Bunderschaft’. As for ‘Burgermeister/Burgomeister’, there is an entry for it on Wikipedia:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgermeister

6

Hi Michael

After looking at the lyrics, it seems to me that Moribund and Bundershaft are supposed to be names of people. To find out precisely why Peter Gabriel chose these, you might need to ask him directly. :lol: But I guess “Moribund” as a name is supposed to suggest the same sorts of things that “moribund” (the adjective) does.

Amy

7

Hi all!

Better late than never, thank you. Yes, I think you?re right advising to nouns and so on.

I surely need to ask the great lyric peot Peter Gabriel himself for explanations. :roll:

Michael

8

Pardon my jumping in late:

“moribund” is an old German expression meaning “bound for death”, AFAIK. Bundershaft is not German although it reminds me somewhat of “Bruderschaft” = brotherhood.
“B?rgermeister” is in fact the equivalent of mayor. It could well be that they are names as Yankee has stated, too. Who will write to Peter Gabriel? :wink:

L.L.