afgesneden

Afgesneden is a Dutch adjective and past participle meaning cut off or severed. It derives from the verb afsnijden, meaning to cut off or to sever. The prefix af- conveys separation, while snijden means to cut. Grammatically, afgesneden can be used predicatively (de arm is afgesneden) or attributively (een afgesneden tak).

In usage, afgesneden covers both physical severance and figurative interruption. Physically, it can describe an amputated body part or a severed object, as in a limb that is afgesneden or a cable that has been afgesneden. Figuratively, it denotes interruption or isolation, such as a communication link that has been broken (de telefoonlijn is afgesneden) or a location that is cut off from surrounding areas (een dorp afgesneden van de rest van het land).

Common expressions include het 'afgesneden worden' of iets of iemand, indicating that contact or connection has been lost. It can also describe abrupt endings or interruptions in processes or discussions.

See also: afsnijden, amputatie, isolatie.

Afgesneden is predominantly a descriptive term; its precise meaning depends on context, ranging from physical severance to metaphorical disconnection. It is widely understood in Dutch, and is used in everyday speech as well as in journalism and literature to convey abrupt separation or isolation.