Leihbücherei

lending library

noun LYE-buekh-e-rye Rare

Usage Note

Leihbücherei is a lending library, historically a commercial enterprise where readers paid to borrow books. Today it can refer informally to a public library (Stadtbücherei). The word evokes the pre-digital era of book circulation.

Examples

"Früher lieh sich meine Großmutter ihre Romane in der Leihbücherei aus."

Natural Translation

In the past, my grandmother used to borrow her novels from the lending library.

Literal Translation

Earlier borrowed herself my grandmother her novels in the lending-library out.

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