ersinnen

to devise, to think up

verb er-ZI-nen Rare

Also means

to conceive of

Usage Note

ersinnen is a somewhat literary verb for inventing or thinking up something clever. It is stronger than sich ausdenken and implies sustained mental effort. Past participle: ersonnen.

Examples

"Er ersann einen Plan, der alle überraschte."

Natural Translation

He devised a plan that surprised everyone.

Literal Translation

He thought-up a plan that all surprised.

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