Edith Kelly (asker) Dec 17, 2018:

Sorry for closing w/o grading But I really do not know which answer to chose

Edith Kelly (asker) Dec 12, 2018:

Björn Danke. Dann habe ich wohl das deutsche Wort possierlich falsch verstanden. Danke für die Aufklärung. Gut, dass ich gefragt habe.

Björn Vrooman Dec 12, 2018:

Agree with Anne I don't see what possierlich has to do with "elegant and purring, sleek movements, rolled up when sleeping."

Possierlich isn't the first word that comes to mind when describing cats. In fact, there are enough examples that involve other types of animals.
E.g.,

"(meist von kleineren Tieren) durch bestimmte Verhaltensweisen, durch die Art, sich zu bewegen, belustigend wirkend; niedlich; drollig
Beispiele
ein possierliches Äffchen"
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/possierlich

"das Kätzchen, der kleine Hund ist ein possierliches Tierchen
die kleinen Äffchen waren sehr possierlich
...
die Eichkätzchen sprangen possierlich von Baum zu Baum"

"Dein kleines Kaninchen ist wirklich sehr possierlich."
https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/possierlich

[Insanely] cute and lovable: https://www.buzzfeed.com/kaelintully/17-lovable-pets-that-ar...

Mostly, though, they're kittens. Slightly awkward: "Gut, Katzen sind putzig und possierlich."
https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/erstes-deutsches-katzen...

Katzenbabys/Kätzchen OK, but possierliche Katze sounds a bit odd.

Ramey Rieger (X) Dec 12, 2018:

Hi Edith Droll is the term I would use for my cats when they're playing, but not when they're washing themselves or curled up by the oven. Cats DO make a house a home, wouldn't miss it for the world. But if you're looking for one term to cover 'possierlich', 'droll' it is, since it encompasses 'clever' with the intention of entertaining, like a clown - as Anne explained. Perhaps what youR'E looking for is akin to 'whimsical'?

Anne Schulz Dec 12, 2018:

@Edith "Possierlich" hat für mich eher die Bedeutung putzig, drollig, niedlich, etwas tollpatschig – eher das Gegenteil von elegant. Die Wurzel ist, glaube ich, auch die gleiche wie "Possen machen".

Edith Kelly (asker) Dec 12, 2018:

droll IMO, droll means slightly bonkers. see here:
https://www.davidmilesbooks.com/book/13133/dame-trot-and-her...

Edith Kelly (asker) Dec 12, 2018:

Lesley I do not know how it is meant. But when I hear possierlich, I have an image in my mind of elegant and purring, sleek movements, rolled up when sleeping. The expression is totally out of context here. But I am simply interested what others see.

Edith Kelly (asker) Dec 12, 2018:

Ramey, good morning there is no context, just: die possierliche Katze, about cats that make a house a home. I was also thinking of droll but do not really like it. It is also an option in dicos.

Ramey Rieger (X) Dec 12, 2018:

Good morning Edith! How about some context?