verb

vermachen

bequeath

Definition & meaning

The verb vermachen has two primary meanings in German:

To bequeath or leave in a will: This is the most common usage, referring to the act of legally giving property, money, or assets to someone (an heir or legatee) after one's death.
To hand down or pass on: In a broader or more figurative sense, it can mean to leave something behind for future generations or a successor, such as a legacy, a tradition, or a body of work.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

Type: Weak verb (regular).
Conjugation: vermacht, vermachte, hat vermacht.
Usage: It usually takes a direct object (the thing being given) and an indirect object (the person receiving it), often used with the preposition an + accusative to indicate the recipient.

Origin: The word is derived from the prefix ver- (indicating a change of state or completion) and machen (to make). Historically, it evolved from the sense of "making something over" to someone else or "putting it away" for someone else's benefit.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

vererben (to inherit/bequeath)
hinterlassen (to leave behind)
überlassen (to leave to/hand over)
stiftenden (to donate/endow)

Antonyms:

erben (to inherit - while related, this describes the receiving side rather than the giving side)
rauben (to steal/rob - antonym in terms of legal transfer)
enteignen (to expropriate)