unterlassen
Translation
to refrain from, to omit, to cease, to neglect
Examples
Bitte unterlassen Sie das Rauchen.
Please refrain from smoking.
Er hat es unterlassen, mir zu helfen.
He neglected to help me.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to refrain from sth. Please refrain from smoking.
((es)) ((zu+infinitive)) to neglect to do sth. He neglected to help me.
Similar Words
Synonyms: to avoid (vermeiden), to stop (aufhören), to neglect (versäumen); Antonyms: to do (tun), to perform (durchführen)
Etymology
Composed of 'unter-' (under) and 'lassen' (to let, leave). It conveys the sense of 'leaving something undone'.
Memory Tips
Imagine 'leaving' an action 'under' the table, i.e., not performing it. This connects to the meaning 'to refrain from'.