einleitenden

Einleitenden is the present participle form of the German verb einleiten (to initiate, to introduce) used as an adjective meaning introductory or prefatory. It describes elements that serve to introduce or begin a larger work, process, or discussion. The adjective can modify nouns in various declensions, depending on number, gender, and case.

Etymology and forms: The word derives from einleiten plus the participle suffix -end. Its base noun related to the idea of introduction is die Einleitung (Introduction). As an attributive adjective, einleitenden appears in plural forms and in certain singular declensions, for example einleitender Abschnitt (singular masculine), die einleitenden Abschnitte (plural), or mit den einleitenden Abschnitten (dative plural).

Usage: Einleitenden is common in academic writing, legal texts, and formal prose to label sections, remarks, or steps that precede the main content. It often appears in compound noun phrases such as einleitenden Abschnitten, einleitenden Kapiteln, or einleitenden Bemerkungen. The form adapts to case and number; in nominative singular masculine you would encounter einleitender, in nominative feminine or neuter forms the endings differ (e.g., eine einleitende Bemerkung).

Examples:

- Der einleitende Abschnitt führt in das Thema ein. (The introductory section introduces the topic.)

- Die einleitenden Worte der Gastgeber waren höflich. (The introductory words of the hosts were polite.)

- In den einleitenden Kapiteln des Buches werden die Ziele beschrieben. (In the introductory chapters of the book, the goals are described.)

- Mit den einleitenden Bemerkungen wurde der Bericht vorangestellt. (With the introductory remarks, the report was prefaced.)

See also: Einleitung, einleiten, einleitend.