fassen

(verb)

Meanings

1.
to grab, to grasp, to fathom
(For actual objects as well as for concepts and ideas. In many instances, a prefix version or "greifen" will be more idiomatic.)
2.
to hold, to contain, to carry
(For to capacity of a container or "basin" of some kind. )
3.
to capture
(For a fugitive.)

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syperk
syperk
3 months ago

Voting for an in depth article on “fassen” !(and signing in for the comment this time)

Emanuel
Admin
3 months ago
Reply to  syperk

Will do it!

DKirkJ
DKirkJ
1 month ago
Reply to  Emanuel

And when you do it, which will be wonderful, perhaps compare greifen?

Emanuel
Admin
1 month ago
Reply to  DKirkJ

I’ll definitely do one on “greifen” as well, but the difference is hard to cover. I think it’s mostly situational/contextual. There’s no inherent consistent difference in the “quality” of “fassen” and “greifen”.

DKirkJ
DKirkJ
1 month ago
Reply to  Emanuel

Danke sehr.

Anonymous
Anonymous
3 months ago

I wonder if “fassen” and friends would make for a good in depth article. And what does it have to do with barrels?

Emanuel
Admin
3 months ago
Reply to  Anonymous

It’s definitely article material. I’ve had it on my list for a while, just a matter of time.

johnathanflaker
johnathanflaker
4 months ago

definition 3 to capture
is erfassen meaning to grab hold of by hand[s]?

Emanuel
Admin
3 months ago

It’s for capturing a fugitive.

  • Die Polizei hat den Dieb gefasst.
johnathanflaker
johnathanflaker
3 months ago
Reply to  Emanuel

to clarify are you saying that def 3 for Fassen is the same as the def for erfassen, as it is erfassen i am trying to understand.
Sorry to bother you, and thanks for your help.

Emanuel
Admin
3 months ago

No, it’s really just for capturing a fugitive or criminal who is on the run.
“erfassen” is about grasping concepts and scopes and data.

No worries about bothering. These questions here are helping clear up the meanings for others as well. I actually really appreciate the dictionary being alive like that.



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