Abgelegte

Abgelegte is a German attributive form of the past participle abgelegt, itself derived from the verb ablegen. In contemporary German, abgelegt means that something has been laid aside, removed, or completed in the sense of having been done or taken. Abgelegt is used in several senses, and abgelegte appears as the descriptive, adjective form that accompanies a noun.

Common senses and usage

- Discarded or removed: abgelegte Kleidung refers to clothes that have been taken off or discarded.

- Completed or performed (especially with tasks or examinations): eine abgelegte Prüfung denotes an examination that has been taken, not necessarily passed.

- Other contexts may use abgelegt to indicate that something has been set aside or shelved, though more precise terms are often preferred in specific domains (for example veraltet für outdated).

Grammatical notes

- abgelegte is the attributive adjective form used with feminine singular nouns in the nominative or accusative case (for example: eine abgelegte Prüfung) and with plural nouns (die abgelegten Prüfungen). The form adapts to the noun’s gender, number, and case as with other adjectives in German.

- It is not a standalone noun; rather, it is the participle used adjectivally to describe a noun.

Etymology and related forms

- Abgelegt comes from ablegen, with the prefix ab-, indicating separation or removal. The sense of completion or having performed an action is tied to phrases like eine Prüfung ablegen (to take an exam) and the resulting abgelegte Prüfung (exam that has been taken).

In usage, abgelegte phrases are common in formal writing and everyday speech when describing items or actions that have been completed or set aside.