auferlegen

Auferlegen is a German verb meaning to impose or to lay something on someone, especially obligations, duties, penalties, or burdens, often by an authority such as a government, court, or organization. It denotes that a person or entity is compelled to accept a policy, rule, or sanction that is not voluntary. The construction typically involves a dative recipient and an accusative object: jemandem etwas auferlegen. Examples include a Pflicht (duty), eine Strafe (penalty), or eine Steuer.

In usage, auferlegen is common in legal, administrative, and political contexts. It emphasizes coercion or authoritative demand rather than voluntary adoption. Passive forms are frequent: Es wurde dem Unternehmer eine Strafe auferlegt. Der Staat hat dem Bürger eine Steuer auferlegt. There is also a reflexive use to describe self-imposed discipline: Sich neue Regeln auferlegen.

Etymologically, auferlegen is formed from auf (upon) and legen (to lay), conveying the sense of laying an obligation or burden upon someone. The verb is predominantly used with formal, official, or normative content, and its antonyms are more permissive or voluntary actions, such as freigeben (to release) or erlauben (to allow) in different senses.

Common collocations include auferlegen eine Pflicht, auferlegen eine Strafe, auferlegen neue Regeln, and auferlegen eine Steuer. While similar to verordnen (to decree) or erheben (to levy), auferlegen emphasizes the act of imposing an obligation or penalty rather than merely creating a rule or collecting taxes.