herbeizuführen

Herbeiführen is a German verb that translates to "to bring about," "to cause," "to induce," or "to lead to." It signifies the action of making something happen or come into existence. The word is derived from the prefix "herbei" meaning "hither" or "towards here," and the verb "führen" meaning "to lead." Thus, "herbeiführen" literally suggests leading something towards the present state.

This verb is often used in contexts where a specific outcome is intentionally achieved or where an event is the result of certain circumstances. For example, one might say "die Polizei hat die Verhaftung herbeigeführt" (the police brought about the arrest) or "seine Handlungen haben zu einer Eskalation herbeigeführt" (his actions led to an escalation). It implies a causative relationship, where an agent or a series of factors are responsible for initiating a change or event.

"Herbeiführen" can be applied to both positive and negative consequences. It can describe the successful achievement of a goal, such as "er hat eine Einigung herbeigeführt" (he brought about an agreement), or it can denote an undesirable outcome, like "die mangelnde Wartung hat den Unfall herbeigeführt" (the lack of maintenance caused the accident). The precise nuance of "herbeiführen" depends heavily on the context in which it is used.