to survey / to presume / to mismeasure
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to survey
To determine and record the exact measurements of something, especially a plot of land or a building.
Ein Geometer wurde beauftragt, das Grundstück neu zu vermessen.
A surveyor was commissioned to survey the property again.
'Vermessen' is an inseparable verb with the prefix 'ver-'. This prefix remains firmly attached to the base verb 'messen' (to measure) in all sentence forms.
Der Architekt vermaß das gesamte Gebäude.
The architect surveyed the entire building.
The meaning changes completely depending on whether the verb is reflexive or not. 'Etwas vermessen' means to take the measurements of something. 'Sich vermessen' means either to make a measuring error or to be arrogant/presumptuous.
Der Experte vermisst das Grundstück.
The expert surveys the property.
The prefix 'ver-' can mean two things here. It can indicate completing an action (surveying an entire property). But it can also indicate a mistake or something negative, as in 'sich vermessen' (to measure incorrectly) or 'sich vermessen' (to presume too much).
Er hat sich beim Kochen mit dem Salz vermessen.
He mismeasured the salt while cooking.
In the meaning of 'sich anmaßen' (to presume/to take it upon oneself), 'sich vermessen' is very often used with an infinitive construction with 'zu'. The structure is: subject + vermisst sich + comma + etwas zu tun.
Er vermaß sich, Ratschläge zu geben.
He presumed to give advice.
When someone makes a mistake while measuring, the size of the error is often given with the preposition 'um' plus the accusative. The structure is: sich um [measurement] vermessen.
Beim Backen habe ich mich um 100 Gramm Mehl vermessen.
While baking, I mismeasured by 100 grams of flour.
to measure
'messen' and 'vermessen' can both mean that you determine measurements. 'messen' is the normal general word: you measure a temperature, a length, or a height. 'vermessen' is used more when something is measured completely and precisely, for example a room, a house, or a plot of land, often with a plan or record. In addition, 'sich vermessen' means to make a mistake while measuring. This can be confusing because 'vermessen' does not always simply mean 'messen'. For individual values, 'messen' is usually more natural; for exact measurements of an entire area, 'vermessen' fits better.
Vor dem Umbau vermisst der Architekt die ganze Wohnung.
Before the renovation, the architect surveys the entire apartment.
Die Ärztin misst vor der Untersuchung den Blutdruck.
The doctor measures the blood pressure before the examination.