Verb

ab|schaffen

to abolish, to get rid of, to do away with, to repeal

Die Regierung will das Gesetz abschaffen.

The government wants to abolish the law.

Wir sollten diese alte Regel abschaffen.

We should abolish this old rule.

((sth.)) to abolish sth. Slavery was abolished.

Synonyms: aufheben, beseitigen; Antonyms: einführen, schaffen.

From 'ab-' (away, off) and 'schaffen' (to create). Literally 'to create away', meaning to remove something that was established.

Think of 'shoving' something 'off' ('ab-') the table to get rid of it. 'Schaffen' sounds a bit like 'shove'.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.