erfassen

grasp

verb er-FAH-sen Less Common

Also means

record, capture

Usage Note

erfassen means to grasp mentally and also to record data: Daten erfassen. Forms: erfasst, erfasste, hat erfasst. Figuratively a feeling can erfassen someone, as in Angst erfasste ihn.

Examples

"Er erfasste die Tragweite des Problems sofort."

Natural Translation

He grasped the scope of the problem at once.

Literal Translation

He grasped the scope of-the problem immediately.

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