to authorize
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to authorize
To give someone formal permission or authorization, often recorded in writing, to act or make decisions on one's behalf.
Sie hat ihren Anwalt bevollmächtigt, den Vertrag für sie zu unterzeichnen.
She authorized her lawyer to sign the contract for her.
The verb is derived from the noun 'die Vollmacht' (power of attorney/authorization), which literally means 'full power.' To 'bevollmächtigen' (to authorize) someone therefore means to give them full power or permission for a specific action.
Mit einer Vollmacht können Sie eine andere Person bevollmächtigen, für Sie zu handeln.
With a power of attorney, you can authorize another person to act on your behalf.
The prefix 'be-' is firmly attached to the verb and is not separated. It stays at the beginning of the word in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Ich bevollmächtige Sie hiermit offiziell.
I hereby officially authorize you.
The structure is always: person 1 (subject) 'bevollmächtigt' (authorizes) person 2 (accusative object) to do something (infinitive with 'zu').
Der Chef bevollmächtigte seine Assistentin, die Dokumente zu prüfen.
The boss authorized his assistant to review the documents.
This word belongs to formal administrative and legal language. It is rarely used in normal everyday life.
Bitte bevollmächtigen Sie Ihren Rechtsbeistand schriftlich.
Please authorize your legal counsel in writing.
to commission
Beauftragen and bevollmächtigen can both be used when someone is assigned to handle a matter. Beauftragen transfers a task, while bevollmächtigen additionally gives formal permission to act or make decisions on someone else’s behalf. When such authority is involved, bevollmächtigen is more precise.
Die Firma bevollmächtigte die Anwältin, in ihrem Namen Entscheidungen zu treffen.
The company authorized the lawyer to make decisions on its behalf.
Die Firma beauftragte eine Anwältin mit der Bearbeitung des Falls.
The company commissioned a lawyer to handle the case.
