freilegen

Freilegen is a German verb meaning to uncover or reveal something that is covered, hidden, or otherwise not visible. It can refer to removing a physical covering to expose an object, or to making information known that was previously concealed. The act is typically intentional and involves lifting, removing, or exposing a layer that hides what lies beneath.

In physical contexts, freilegen describes the process of exposing objects or structures by clearing away earth, rock, vegetation, or protective barriers. For example, archaeologists freilegen a fossil or a relic, geologists freilegen a mineral layer, and builders freilegen a foundation to examine what lies underneath. In a figurative sense, the term is used for revealing information or data, such as freilegen Beweise (to uncover evidence) or freilegen a truth or a weakness.

Etymologically, freilegen combines frei (free) and legen (to lay), echoing the sense of laying bare something that was previously covered. It is a transitive verb that typically governs a direct object in the accusative case, and it is common in technical, scientific, and journalistic language, as well as in everyday speech when describing uncovering actions or the disclosure of information.

Related terms include enthüllen, aufdecken, and offenbaren, which convey similar senses of revealing or disclosing. Antonyms include verdecken or verbergen, which denote concealing or hiding. Freilegen often carries a neutral to technical tone, emphasizing the removal of concealment rather than the broader act of disclosure.