beruhen

Beruhen is a German verb meaning to rest on or, more commonly, to be based on or derive from. In figurative use it indicates that a conclusion, argument, theory, or decision obtains its justification from a preceding basis such as facts, data, or authorities. It is typically used with the preposition auf followed by a noun in the dative: "Der Schluss beruht auf den vorliegenden Daten." "Die Theorie beruht auf Beobachtungen." It can also introduce a clause with "darauf": "Der Plan beruht darauf, dass..."

Etymology and usage: The verb is formed with the prefix be- and the verb ruhen (to rest). The figurative sense "to be based on" developed from the literal sense of resting on something. Beruhen is common in formal, academic, and legal writing; it is less frequent in casual speech, where basieren auf or sich stützen auf are more common.

Conjugation and related forms: Beruhen follows standard German conjugation patterns; the past participle is beruht, and the perfect is formed with haben: "Es hat auf falschen Annahmen beruht." Related expressions include basieren auf and sich stützen auf, which convey similar ideas of grounding or justification.

See also: Basieren auf; Sich stützen auf; Auf etwas beruhen.