Verb

veranlassen

Translation

to cause, to arrange, to prompt, to induce

Was hat dich dazu veranlasst?

What caused you to do that?

Er veranlasste eine Untersuchung.

He arranged for an investigation.

Ich habe alles Nötige veranlasst.

I have arranged everything necessary.

((j-n)) ((zu et3)) to cause/prompt sb. to do sth. What prompted you to do that?

((et4)) to arrange/cause sth. He arranged for an investigation.

verursachen (to cause), bewirken (to bring about), anordnen (to order)

From the prefix 'ver-' (indicating change or completion) + 'anlassen' (to start). Literally, 'to cause to start'.

Think of it as 'ver-an-lassen' -> 'to let something be on its way', which means to cause it to happen or to arrange it.