absetzten

Absetzen is a German verb with several related meanings centered on removal, cessation, or setting apart. It is a separable prefix verb, formed from ab- and setzen, and its conjugated forms reflect the separation of the prefix (for example: setzt ab, setzte ab, hat abgesetzt). The core idea across uses is to move something away from its position, or to stop using or employing it.

In medical and pharmacological contexts, absetzen means to discontinue a medication, therapy, or treatment. This is typically done under medical supervision to avoid risks or withdrawal effects. Example: Der Patient hat das Medikament abgesetzt. It can also be used to advise patients to stop a therapy.

In political and administrative domains, absetzen means to remove a person from office or official function. It can describe a formal decommissioning or dismissal. Example: Der Minister wurde vom Amt abgesetzt. The term conveys a forceful or formal removal rather than voluntary resignation.

More generally, absetzen can mean to set something aside or detach it from a larger whole. In everyday language, it may describe removing an item from a list, a device from a system, or otherwise separating components. It can also carry the sense of ceasing or concluding an action, such as stopping a particular practice or habit.

Related terms include einstellen (to stop or adjust), abschaffen (to abolish), and entfernen (to remove). As with many German separable-prefix verbs, the exact nuance of absetzen depends on context, but the core notions are removal, cessation, or separation.