verursacht

Verursacht is the past participle of the German verb verursachen, which means to cause. It is used in two main ways: as part of verb forms describing causation (for example, etwas hat verursacht) and as an attributive or predicative adjective meaning “caused” or “causing” (for example, verursachte Schäden or durch den Sturm verursachte Schäden).

Etymology and grammar: Verursachen comes from Ursache (cause) with the prefix ver-, and the past participle is verursacht. As an adjective, es declines to agree with the noun: die verursachte Überschwemmung (feminine singular), die verursachten Schäden (plural). In predicative position, it appears with forms of sein or haben in sentences such as Der Schaden wurde verursacht. The construction verusacht durch + noun is common to indicate the causal agent, for example verursacht durch menschliches Versagen or durch einen technischen Defekt.

Usage and translation: In English, verursacht translates to “caused” or “causing,” depending on context. It signals direct causation and is neutral in tone, suitable for technical or factual writing. It can be contrasted with synonyms like ausgelöst (triggered) or bedingt durch (caused by), which carry slightly different nuances.