geschlagen

Geschlagen is the past participle of the German verb schlagen, meaning to strike, beat, or defeat. In modern usage it functions as an adjective meaning be beaten or defeated, and as a passive participle in tenses such as „ist geschlagen“ or „wurde geschlagen“. It can also be used as a noun when capitalized, for example Der Geschlagene or Die Geschlagenen, referring to a defeated person or group.

As an adjective, geschlagen describes someone or something that has suffered defeat or has been physically struck. Examples include a sports team that has lost a game: „Die Mannschaft ist geschlagen.“ In a literal sense it can describe material that has been shaped by hammering, as in „geschlagenes Blech“ or „geschlagenes Metall“, meaning sheet metal that has been hammered into form.

In chess, the term is used to indicate a captured piece; a piece that has been taken is described as geschlagen, for example „Der Turm ist geschlagen.“ The word also appears in historical or literary contexts to convey a sense of defeat or weariness, beyond mere physical striking.

Etymology and formation: geschlagen is formed from the strong verb schlagen with the ge- prefix used to form past participles. The result is a compound that can function in adjectival, nominal, and passive constructions, with spelling and capitalization adapting to its role in a sentence.

See also: schlagen, besiegt, Schach (Schlagen as capturing in chess).