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verb

fassen

grasp · touch · hold · summarize · make · catch · pull oneself together

Etwas mit der Hand greifen oder halten.

Definition & meaning

The verb fassen is a versatile German word with several distinct meanings depending on the context:

  1. To grasp or seize (physically): This refers to taking hold of something with one's hands or catching an object.
    • Example: Er fasste den Griff. (He grasped the handle.)
  2. To capture or apprehend: In a legal or police context, it means to catch a criminal or a runaway.
    • Example: Die Polizei konnte den Dieb fassen. (The police were able to capture the thief.)
  3. To comprehend or understand (often used in the negative): It expresses the mental ability to grasp a concept, often used with "nicht" when something is unbelievable.
    • Example: Ich kann es nicht fassen! (I cannot believe it / I cannot grasp it!)
  4. To contain or hold (volume): It refers to the capacity of a container.
    • Example: Der Eimer fasst zehn Liter. (The bucket holds ten liters.)
  5. To set (jewelry): It refers to mounting a gemstone into a piece of jewelry.
    • Example: Den Diamanten in Gold fassen. (To set the diamond in gold.)
  6. To express (reflexive - sich fassen): This means to pull oneself together or recover one's composure.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Grammar: It is a strong verb. The conjugation is: fassen (infinitive), fasste (past tense/Präteritum), gefasst (past participle). It often appears with prefixes, creating many common verbs like anfassen, erfassen, or zusammenfassen.
  • Origin: The word stems from the Old High German fazzōn, meaning to grasp, reach, or hold. It is related to the English word "fasten," though the meanings have diverged over time.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Greifen: To reach for or grab.
  • Begreifen: To understand or comprehend intellectually.
  • Erwischen: To catch or get hold of something or someone.
  • Enthalten: To contain, referring to capacity.
  • Sich sammeln: To collect oneself or compose oneself.

Antonyms:

  • Loslassen: To let go or release.
  • Verlieren: To lose (in the sense of losing one's grip or losing a pursuit).
  • Missverstehen: To misunderstand (the opposite of grasping/understanding).

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Examples

Er kann es nicht fassen.verb

He cannot grasp it.

Er versucht, alles mit den Händen zu fassen.verb

He tries to grasp everything with his hands.

Kinder fassen vorsichtig den Ast an.verb

Children carefully touch the branch.

Wir fassen uns an den Händen.verb

We hold each other by the hands.

Kinder fassen gerne warme Tassen an.verb

Children like to touch warm cups.

Wir fassen diesen Plan zusammen.verb

We summarize this plan.

Viele Leute können manchmal schwierige Nachrichten kaum fassen.verb

Many people can sometimes hardly grasp difficult news.

Niemand konnte seine Freude fassen.verb

No one could grasp his joy.

Die Kinder fassten sich an den Händen, bevor sie die Straße überquerten.verb

The children held each other by the hands before they crossed the street.

Sie konnte ihr Glück kaum fassen, als sie die Nachrichten hörte.verb

She could hardly grasp her luck when she heard the news.

Nach einem langen Gespräch fasste er endlich einen Entschluss.verb

After a long conversation he finally made a decision.

Nachdem die Polizei den Dieb gefasst hatte, war die Spannung vorbei.verb

After the police had caught the thief, the tension was over.

Ich konnte kaum fassen, wie schnell alles passiert ist.verb

I could hardly grasp how quickly everything happened.

Nach dem Unfall fassten sich alle schnell wieder.verb

After the accident everyone quickly pulled themselves together again.

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