ablegen

Ablegen is a German noun derived from the verb ablegen. It denotes the act of laying something down, setting it aside, or initiating a movement or state transition. In everyday language the noun often appears in formal contexts to describe procedures or milestones, such as taking an examination, decommissioning arms, or launching a vessel. The term is built from the prefix ab- meaning away and legen meaning to lay, and shares cognates with related terms in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch afleggen, which carries similar senses.

In usage, Ablegen appears in several idioms and technical phrases. For example, in education and certification contexts, it is used to describe the act of taking an exam: das Ablegen einer Prüfung. In military or diplomatic contexts, das Ablegen der Waffen refers to laying down weapons or disarmament. In nautical terms, das Ablegen eines Schiffes denotes the moment the vessel departs from the pier. The noun is more common in written German and formal speech; the corresponding verb ablegen is widely used in both spoken and written language with a broader set of senses, including to wear away, to file, or to begin a journey.

See also: ablegen, Ablegung, das Ablegen der Waffen, das Ablegen einer Prüfung.