angelegten

Angelegten is the attributive, inflected form of the German past participle angelegt, derived from the separable prefix verb anlegen. As an adjective, angelegt describes something that has been put on, applied, placed, or invested. The specific form angelegten is used in certain grammatical contexts, most notably after a definite determiner in plural (die angelegten Schuhe) and in other weak-declension environments.

Usage and senses

The participle angelegt can convey several meanings depending on context: clothing that has been worn (Kleidung angelegt), funds that have been invested (Gelder angelegt), or vessels that have been docked (Schiffe angelegt). The intended sense is determined by the noun and surrounding wording, so angelegten often appears in contexts related to fashion, finance, or maritime activity.

Morphology and examples

In attributive position after a definite article or possessive determiner, the adjective takes the ending -en in the plural, producing angelegten. Examples: Die angelegten Schuhe stehen vor der Tür. Die angelegten Mittel wurden für neue Projekte freigegeben. In singular form with an indefinite article, the endings differ: ein angelegter Schuh, eine angelegte Hose, ein angelegtes Hemd. In predicative position, the participle typically remains angelegt: Die Schuhe sind angelegt.

Etymology and note

The form derives from the prefix an- and legen, with the past participle angelegt. German uses this participle both as a verb form and as an adjective; the inflected form angelegten reflects standard German adjective declension rules following determiners, particularly in plural and definite contexts.