Überlegen
Example: Ich muss gut überlegen, bevor ich eine Entscheidung treffe.
Definition
"Überlegen" as a verb means to think carefully and thoroughly about something before making a decision or forming an opinion. It involves deliberate contemplation or reflection, as in the phrase, "Ich muss gut überlegen, bevor ich eine Entscheidung treffe" (I must think carefully before making a decision).
Etymology
The German verb "überlegen" is formed from the prefix "über-" meaning "over" or "above" and the verb "legen" meaning "to lay". Originally, it suggested the idea of 'laying something over' or 'considering something from above,' which evolved metaphorically to mean careful consideration or pondering. Did you know that "überlegen" shares roots with words implying superiority or going beyond, reflecting the thoroughness of thought?
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"Überlegen" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used words.
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