verhaften
Translation
to arrest, to apprehend
Examples
Die Polizei hat den Dieb verhaftet.
The police arrested the thief.
Er wurde wegen Diebstahls verhaftet.
He was arrested for theft.
Grammar Patterns
((sb.)) to arrest sb. The police arrested the man.
((sb.)) ((for sth.)) to arrest sb. for sth. He was arrested for fraud.
Similar Words
Synonyms: festnehmen, in Gewahrsam nehmen; Antonyms: freilassen
Etymology
From `ver-` (prefix) + `haften` (to stick, to be liable). The prefix intensifies the idea of making someone 'stick' in place.
Memory Tips
Imagine the police making a criminal 'haften' (stick) to a jail cell.