beflissen

eager to please, zealously devoted

adjective be-FLIS-sen Rare

Also means

assiduous, officious

Usage Note

Beflissen suggests over-eager helpfulness that borders on servility. Often used ironically in modern German: a beflissener Assistent is one who tries so hard to impress that it becomes annoying. From befleißigen (to apply oneself diligently).

Examples

"Der beflissene Praktikant meldete sich bei jeder Aufgabe sofort."

Natural Translation

The over-eager intern immediately volunteered for every task.

Literal Translation

The eager-to-please intern volunteered at every task immediately.

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