Erlegen

Erlegen is a German verb meaning to kill or shoot down, typically in reference to animals but also used figuratively for defeating an opponent. The most common usage is in hunting, where one speaks of “einen Hirsch erlegen” or “das Wild erlegen” to indicate that a animal has been brought down. In broader contexts it can mean to defeat or overcome someone or something, as in “den Gegner erlegen.”

The noun form die Erlegung denotes the act of killing or dispatch. The past participle erlegt is used to form the perfect tense, e.g., “Der Jäger hat das Wild erlegt.” The term is found in hunting literature, wildlife management reports, and, less commonly, in formal narration of events.

Etymology and nuance: erlegen comes from the prefix er- combined with legen, originally related to laying down or bringing down. In modern usage it emphasizes the completion of the act—finishing off or delivering a downed state—rather than simply causing death. The word can carry a formal or archaic tone and is less common in everyday speech, where töten is more general, or erlösen/ euthanisieren are used in medical or humane contexts.

Usage notes: In hunting, erlegen is standard and neutral. In reference to people, töten is the more typical term; erlegen for a person is rare and can sound literary. In sports or competition, erlegen is used metaphorically to mean defeating or eliminating an opponent.

See also: Erlegung, Erleger (one who kills), Abschuss (the shot or the act of shooting), Tötung.