ansetzen

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German

Etymology

Inherited from Middle High German anesetzen, from Old High German anasezzen. Analyzable as an- +‎ setzen. Compare English onset.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key):
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: an‧set‧zen

Verb

ansetzen (weak, third-person singular present setzt an, past tense setzte an, past participle angesetzt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive) to set, to place, ready (an implement or tool in the required position for its usage, implying an intent to start using it, e.g. a chisel on stone, a pen on paper, a bottle on the lips)
    den Rotstift ansetzento start cutting down expenses (literally, “to ready the red marker”)
    Bevor du die Bohrmaschine ansetzt, solltest du sichergehen, dass dort in der Wand keine Stromleitung verläuft.
    Before you place the drill , make sure there's no electrical wire in the wall at that point.
  2. (transitive) to schedule, to set (a meeting, a procedure, an election)
    Synonym: (formal) anberaumen
    In diesem Fall wird ein Ersatztermin angesetzt.
    In this case an alternative date will be set.
    Für nächsten März sind Neuwahlen angesetzt.Elections are scheduled for next March.
  3. (transitive) to prepare (a concoction or mixture, such as to start a process that results in the intended product, e.g. fermentation or acquiring a certain aroma)
  4. (transitive) to develop, to start forming (seeds, rust, a patina, etc.)
    Synonym: bilden
    Staub ansetzento gather dust (literally, “to start forming dust”)
  5. (transitive) to set someone on something or someone, to set someone to some task (e.g. tracking dogs on a person, detectives or lawyers on a case, workers on a problem)
    Die Firma hat ihre Amwälte darauf angesetzt, das zu verhindern.
    The company set their lawyers to the task of preventing that.
  6. (intransitive) to begin, to attempt (an act, especially movement, either being interrupted or not yet having had the chance to fully perform it)
    zum Überholvorgang ansetzen (formal)to begin the overtaking process
    Er setzte zu einer Antwort an, wurde aber unterbrochen.
    He started to answer, but was interrupted.
  7. (transitive, obsolete) to attack
    Synonyms: angreifen, attackieren

Conjugation

Derived terms

Further reading

  • ansetzen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • ansetzen” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • ansetzen” in Duden online
  • ansetzen” in OpenThesaurus.de