erblicken
Translation
to catch sight of, to spot, to glimpse, to behold
Examples
Ich erblicke ein Schiff am Horizont.
I catch sight of a ship on the horizon.
Er erblickte das Licht der Welt im Jahre 1990.
He was born in 1990. (lit. 'He saw the light of the world')
Grammar Patterns
to catch sight of sb./sth. to catch sight of someone/something Ich erblicke eine Gestalt in der Ferne.
Similar Words
Synonyms: sehen, entdecken, wahrnehmen
Etymology
Prefix 'er-' (often indicating achievement or beginning) + 'blicken' (to look, glance). So, 'to succeed in looking' at something.
Memory Tips
Think of it as a more formal or poetic way of saying 'to see'. The 'er-' prefix adds a sense of discovery or achievement.