to rope
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to rope
To equip, connect, or secure someone or something with a rope. Today, the word is rarely used on its own and is usually part of compounds such as 'anseilen' (to rope up) or 'abseilen' (to rappel).
Der Kranführer musste die schwere Last sorgfältig seilen, bevor er sie anheben konnte.
The crane operator had to rope the heavy load carefully before he could lift it.
The verb 'seilen' (to rope) is derived directly from the noun 'das Seil' (rope). The basic meaning is therefore to do something with a rope.
Für diese Klettertour müssen wir uns mit einem Seil sichern.
For this climbing tour, we have to secure ourselves with a rope.
The verb 'seilen' (to rope) is hardly used on its own anymore. You find it almost exclusively in separable verbs such as 'abseilen' (to rappel), 'anseilen' (to rope up), or 'aufseilen' (to hoist with a rope), which describe a specific action with a rope.
Die Bergsteiger seilten sich gegenseitig an, um nicht abzustürzen.
The mountaineers roped themselves to each other so they would not fall.
The reflexive form 'sich abseilen' has, in addition to its literal meaning (to lower oneself on a rope), a very common colloquial meaning: to slip away secretly or unnoticed.
Die Party war langweilig, also haben wir uns früh abgeseilt.
The party was boring, so we slipped away early.
to secure / save
'sichern' and 'seilen' can both have to do with a rope and protection from danger. 'sichern' is the normal and important word when you make someone or something safe, for example when climbing. 'seilen' means to connect or secure someone or something with a rope, but it is rarely used on its own. You hear forms like 'anseilen' (to rope up) or 'abseilen' (to rappel) much more often. Learners may confuse the words because a rope can be involved in both cases. In practice: when protection is the focus, you say 'sichern'. When it is about attaching or using a rope, a form with 'seilen' is usually suitable.
Vor dem Aufstieg seilen sich die Bergsteiger an.
Before the ascent, the mountaineers rope themselves up.
Beim Klettern sichert Tom seine Freundin mit einem Seil.
When climbing, Tom belays his girlfriend with a rope.