beschießen
Translation
to shoot at, to shell, to bombard, to fire upon
Examples
Die Soldaten beschießen die feindliche Stellung.
The soldiers are shooting at the enemy position.
Die Kinder beschießen sich mit Wasserpistolen.
The children are shooting at each other with water pistols.
Die Festung wurde tagelang beschossen.
The fortress was shelled for days.
Grammar Patterns
((sb./sth.)) ((with sth.)) to shoot at sb./sth. with sth. They beschießen the castle with cannons.
Similar Words
angreifen (to attack), bombardieren (to bombard); Antonyms: verteidigen (to defend)
Etymology
From the prefix 'be-' (indicating an action upon something) and 'schießen' (to shoot). It directs the action of shooting onto a target.
Memory Tips
Think of the 'be-' prefix as directing the 'schießen' (shooting) action *at* a specific target.