Aflæggelse

Aflæggelse is a Danish noun formed from the verb aflægge and denotes the act of laying down, depositing, presenting, or committing something. The exact meaning depends on context, but it generally refers to a formal or deliberate act performed before an authority or in a record.

In legal and administrative contexts, aflæggelse commonly refers to presenting information or documents to an official body. Examples include the aflæggelse af vidneforklaring (giving a witness statement) and the aflæggelse af ed (taking an oath). These acts are typically carried out in formal proceedings, such as court hearings, parliamentary sessions, or when assuming public office. The term emphasises the ceremonial or procedural nature of the action, often accompanied by a record or oath.

Beyond law and government, aflæggelse can also describe the act of committing oneself to a duty or making a statement in a formal sense, such as a declaration or sworn admission. The word can thus be used more broadly to denote any deliberate act presented to an authority, a record, or a public record.

Etymologically, aflæggelse comes from aflægge, meaning to lay down or to commit, with the suffix -else forming the noun for the act. The concept is linked to the idea of placing something into a formal channel or archive, whether it is a statement, evidence, or an oath.