Re: CHAT: German help

Julia "Schnecki" Simon"  wrote:
>
> On 6/30/06, Ph.D. <phil@...> wrote:
> >
> > I'm looking at a German used books website.
> >
> > Can somebody (preferably a German-speaker) tell
> > me what "aussen gebrauchsspurig" means?
> > Babelfish doesn't know the second word.
>
> I wouldn't have recognized the word either if you hadn't
> given the context (used books). ;-)
>
> The word _gebrauchsspurig_ is an adjective derived
> from _Gebrauchsspur_ "trace (or evidence) of use".
> So, the book in question doesn't look new but... well...
> used, but apparently only on the outside (außen).
[snip interesting information]

Thank you to both Julia and Mark.

The book I'm interested in is described as "aussen
gebrauchsspurig, innen sehr gut" which Babelfish
renders as "outside gebrauchsspurig, inside very well."

I was afraid "gebrauchsspurig" might mean "completely
ripped up" or something, but it sounds as though it is
not very bad, so I will go ahead and order the book.

Thanks again,
Ph. D.