Utsette

Utsette is a Norwegian verb with two primary meanings. The most common sense is to postpone, defer, or delay something—a meeting, a decision, a plan. In everyday and formal use, you can say "Vi må utsette møtet til neste uke" or "Møtet ble utsatt." The second sense means to subject someone or something to something else, often implying exposure to risk, danger, testing, or scrutiny. For example, "vi ble utsatt for kraftig regn" or "å utsette noe for risiko" and "å utsette seg for fare."

Grammatical notes: Utsette is a transitive verb. The present tense is "utsetter," the past tense "utsatte," and the perfect participle "har utsatt." The passive form is "utsettes." The noun form for the postponement sense is "utsettelse" (or "utsettelse" as a noun relating to a delay). The expression "å utsette seg for" is used reflexively to mean exposing oneself to something, e.g., "å utsette seg for fare."

Etymology: The verb originates from the prefix ut- (outward, away) combined with sette (to place), historically developing from a sense of moving something to a later time or place, and later extending to exposure or risk in certain contexts.

Usage context: Common in administration, media, and everyday conversation. Distinctions between senses are typically clear from context and prepositions: postponement relates to time, while exposure relates to risk, testing, or scrutiny.

See also: postponement (utsettelse); deferral; exposure (eksponering).