‖ gesundheit, int.
(gəˈzʊnthaɪt)
[G., lit. ‘health’.]
An exclamation used to wish good health to a person, esp. to someone who sneezes.
| 1914 Everybody's Feb. 484 ‘Saved your life,’ he murmured mechanically, as one suffixes ‘Gesundheit’ to a sneeze. 1942 O. Nash Good Intentions 124 Mr. Weaver said ‘A cashew’, and the man said ‘Gesundheit’. 1959 H. Pinter Birthday Party ii. 37 Goldberg (lifting his glass). Gezunteheit [1960 ed.: Gesundheit]. 1961 L. Payne Nose on my Face xvi. 252 Saunders sneezed suddenly. ‘Gesundheit,’ said Jim. |