återlade

Återlade is a Swedish verb form meaning to lay again, to restore or re-install something by placing it anew. It is the past tense form of the compound verb återlägga, which combines the prefix åter- meaning “again” or “back” with lägga, the verb “to lay” or “to place.”

Usage of återlägga is primarily found in technical or formal contexts, such as architecture, construction, and archaeology, where operations involve re-laying soil, paving, or other elements after removal or disturbance. In everyday language, more common expressions for returning or restoring things are återlämna (to return) or återuppbygga/återställa (to rebuild or restore to a previous state). Återlägga tends to be relatively formal and specialized.

Grammatical notes: Present tense is återlägger; past tense is återlade; past participle is återlagt; and the verbal noun is återläggande. The form återlade should not be confused with related verbs that begin with åter- but have different meanings, such as återlämna (to return) and återställa (to restore).

Examples: The contractor återlade the road bed to its original profile after utility work. Archaeologists återlade markens natural contours to study the site more accurately.

See also: återlägga, återuppbygga, återställa, återlämna.