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 effect), anordnen (to arrange)

Composed of 'ver-' (a prefix often indicating change or completion) and 'anlassen' (to start up). So, it means to make something start.

Imagine you are 'letting' (lassen) an action 'on' (an), causing it to begin. This links to the meaning 'to arrange' or 'to cause'.