Beschlagene

Beschlagene is the inflected form of the German adjective beschlagen, used to describe surfaces or objects that have become coated, covered, or treated in a particular way. In everyday language the most common sense is condensation: surfaces such as windows or mirrors that have moisture on them are described as beschlagen.

The form beschlagene appears as an attributive or predicative adjective and can modify various nouns depending on gender, number, and case. Examples include der beschlagene Spiegel (the fogged mirror), die beschlagenen Fensterscheiben (the fogged window panes), and ein beschlagenes Glas (a fogged glass). The exact meaning—fogging, moisture buildup, or a surface treated with hardware—depends on the surrounding context.

A secondary sense of beschlagen relates to the verb beschlagen, meaning to fit or equip with hardware or fittings. In this usage, beschlagene Türen would describe doors that are fitted with hardware (hinges, handles, etc.), and das Pferd ist beschlagen describes a horse that has been shoed.

Beschlagene is not a proper noun; its meaning varies with context and with the declension of the adjective. Related terms include Beschlag (the hardware or fitting itself) and the broader family of verbs around beschlagen, which covers both moisture condensation and the act of fitting with fittings or shoes.