bemessen

Bemessen is a German verb with the core meanings to determine the size, amount, or value of something by measuring or estimating it. It can refer to concrete dimensions as well as to more abstract assessments, such as determining needs, risks, or resources. In everyday language bemessen often conveys that a quantity is assessed as adequate or appropriate for a given purpose.

Etymology and forms: The word is formed from the verb messen (to measure) with the prefix be-, yielding bemessen. The current form is the verb; the past participle is bemessen, as in Wir haben den Bedarf bemessen. The related noun Bemessung denotes the process of measuring or estimating, and Bemessungswert or Bemessungsgrundlage refer to specific design values or calculation bases in technical contexts.

Usage areas: In daily usage, one bemisst den Bedarf, das Budget oder die Fläche. In physics or engineering, bemessen can mean to determine a dimension or the load-carrying capacity of a component, with "Bemessung" used as a technical term for such calculations according to standards or codes. The related verbs einschätzen or abschätzen convey similar ideas of estimation, but bemessen emphasizes a quantitative determination.

Examples: Wir müssen den Raumbedarf bemessen, bevor wir einen Raum planen. Die Bemessung der Tragfähigkeit erfolgt nach DIN-Normen. Der Ressourcenbedarf wurde sorgfältig bemessen.