nachsichtig werden lassen

English translation: make so. become mellow and somewhat lenient

06:54 Sep 22, 2009
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
German term or phrase: nachsichtig werden lassen
Having a bit of job finding the right expression for the "nachsichtig werden lassen" in this sentence. It's taken from a hotel report (not an art text as such) describing a picture (Raffael's Madonna) which has been hanging in the hotel for decades as a "silent witness" to all the goings-on...

"Raffael's "Madonna", das nackte Kind auf dem Arm, blickt milde aus dem Bilderrahmen. Fast so, als hätten sich die Jahrzehnte, die sie als stumme Zeugin an der Wand verbracht hat, nachsichtig werden lassen."
Lesley Robertson MA, Dip Trans IoLET
Austria
Local time: 06:43
English translation:make so. become mellow and somewhat lenient
Explanation:
There a too many nuances in "nachsichtig" to allow an equivalent translation in one single term.
Selected response from:

Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 22:43
Grading comment
Thank you Nicole.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3make so. become mellow and somewhat lenient
Nicole Schnell
4 +1had given [her] the patience of the ages
Helen Shiner
3(had brought with them) forbearance
franglish
3(as if the passing decades...had) made her more understanding
Clive Phillips
3instilled a tolerance/an indulgence
Lonnie Legg
3[as if the decades,..., ]have mildened / tempered her
Heike Schwarz
3 -1as if the last decade never happened
Elsje Apostel


  

Answers


23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
as if the last decade never happened


Explanation:
depending on the construction of your sentence of course

Elsje Apostel
Belgium
Local time: 06:43
Native speaker of: Dutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  mill2: the meaning is the opposite - the decades that have passed have changed and mellowed her
3 hrs
  -> oops, ok, ty 4 pointing that out, sorry about having it wrong
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27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
make so. become mellow and somewhat lenient


Explanation:
There a too many nuances in "nachsichtig" to allow an equivalent translation in one single term.

Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 22:43
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
Thank you Nicole.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): I agree; itis written in a light, somewhat humorous vein, so this renders it very well
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Ingeborg! :)

agree  gangels (X): simply ''...as though the decades past had mellowed her'. Forget the 'lenient'..
5 hrs

agree  Andrea Black: With gangels.
6 hrs
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53 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
(had brought with them) forbearance


Explanation:
As if the decades spent as a silent witness had brought with them forbearance.

I think you can leave out "hanging on the wall"

franglish
Switzerland
Local time: 06:43
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
had given [her] the patience of the ages


Explanation:
This is an EN expression used in equivalent situations.

By the way, it should be Raphael in EN.



Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 275

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  mill2
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, mill
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
(as if the passing decades...had) made her more understanding


Explanation:
I wonder whether "sich" is a typo for "sie".

Clive Phillips
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:43
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
instilled a tolerance/an indulgence


Explanation:
"as if the decades ... had instilled in her a tolerance..."

Lonnie Legg
Germany
Local time: 06:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 16
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2 days 15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
[as if the decades,..., ]have mildened / tempered her


Explanation:
This goes nicely with the idea of a mother who becomes less demanding and less stern over the years. I prefer tempered, I think.

Heike Schwarz
Germany
Local time: 06:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
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