Udstået

Udstået is a Danish adjective and past participle derived from the verb udstå, meaning to endure or to serve out a period of time or an obligation. When used in everyday or formal language, udstået indicates that the period in question has already been completed or endured. It is commonly found in legal, administrative, and official texts, but may also appear in general narration to describe fulfilled commitments or time.

Etymology and formation: The word combines the prefix ud- (out, completed) with stå (to stand, to endure). As a participle it can modify a noun directly (the udstået tid) or be used predicatively (tiden er udstået). This construction emphasizes completion rather than mere existence of a period.

Usage and contexts: Udstået is frequently used with nouns such as straf (sentence), tid (time), periode (period), and kontrakt (contract). Typical sense is that a period of service, imprisonment, or obligation has been fulfilled. In legal and formal contexts you might encounter phrases like udstået straf, udstået tid, or den udståede del af en straf. The term contrasts with udløbet (expired) or fuldført in different nuances; udstået stresses completion through endurance or service, while udløbet focuses on the deadline passing.

Translations: In English, udstået is commonly rendered as served or completed, as in “served his sentence” or “the served portion of the period.”

See also: afsoning (serving a sentence), udløb (expiration), kontraktperioder.