geprägte

Geprägt is the past participle of the verb prägen, which means to imprint, stamp, or shape. In everyday German, geprägt is used both in literal senses—such as objects that have been pressed or minted—and in figurative senses, describing something shaped or influenced by forces or experiences. The most common literal use is in reference to coins: eine geprägte Münze denotes a coin that has been produced by minting with a design impressed into metal. Figuratively, one speaks of a person, character, or situation that has been influenced or formed by particular experiences, for example, eine von den Ereignissen geprägte Persönlichkeit.

Geprägte can function as an adjective in attributive position and follows standard German declension patterns. The form geprägte appears with feminine singular nouns (eine geprägte Münze, die geprägte Münze) and with all plural nouns (geprägte Münzen). Other gender/number forms include geprägter (masculine singular), geprägtes (neuter singular), and geprägten (plural in certain cases). The endings depend on case, article, and whether the adjective is attributive or predicative.

Usage notes and contexts: In physics or textures, one might describe a surface as geprägte Muster or geprägte Struktur to indicate a design impressed into the surface. In metaphorical language, phrases like von Erfahrungen geprägt or durch Ereignisse geprägt are common to express that someone or something bears the imprint of those influences. The term is neutral and widely used in linguistics, numismatics, and general prose.

Etymology and related terms: prägen refers broadly to imprinting or stamping and to coin production (Münzprägung). Related nouns include Prägung (the act of imprinting) and Prägungsgeschichte in a historical or cultural context.