abgelegt

Abgelegt is the past participle of the German verb ablegen and is used in several related senses. In everyday use it appears in perfect tenses (for example, ich habe abgelegt) and as an adjective or attributive participle describing something that has been put down, removed, or completed in some way. The exact meaning depends on the context, and abgelegt often marks a completed action or a state resulting from that action.

Etymologically, the form combines the prefix ab- meaning away or off with legen, to lay or place. This alignment underpins the core ideas of separation, removal, or completion that run through the different uses of abgelegt: taking clothes off, putting something down, completing an activity, or relinquishing a position.

Common uses include several umbrella senses. With clothing, one says die Jacke abgelegt to mean taking off the jacket. In education or testing, ablegen appears in phrases like eine Prüfung abgelegt, meaning that an exam has been taken (and the result is determined later, commonly not implying pass/fail). In a professional or formal sense, das Amt abgelegen means to resign from an office or relinquish a post. The verb can also describe placing documents or items in storage or filing them, as in Unterlagen abgelegt, and in betting contexts as eine Wette abgelegt, to place a bet. Figuratively, abgelegt can signal that something is set aside or no longer in use, such as old habits or ideas.

Overall, abgelegt is a versatile participle in German, with meanings tied to removal, completion, or disposition of objects, actions, or roles.