verdeckten

Verdeckten is a German word form with several grammatical functions. Most commonly it appears as the Präteritum (simple past) form of the verb verdecken, meaning to conceal or cover. In this use, verdeckten is the form used with the plural subjects wir and sie: wir verdeckten, sie verdeckten. Example: Sie verdeckten die Wahrheit vor der Öffentlichkeit.

Verdeckten also functions as an inflected adjective form. When verdeckt is used attributively with a definite article in the plural, the ending -en appears: die verdeckten Hinweise (the concealed clues). In this role, the spelling matches the verb form, but the function is adjectival rather than verbal.

Etymology and usage: verdecken derives from the prefix ver- and the verb decken (to cover). The sense is concealment or hiding, whether of physical objects or information. The term appears in varied contexts, such as verdeckte Operationen (concealed operations) or verdeckte Kameras (hidden cameras).

Notes on distinction: the same spelling verdeckten can indicate either the Präteritum verb form (with plural subjects) or the attributive adjective in plural after a definite article. The past participle of verdecken, used with auxiliary haben to form perfect tenses, is verdeckt. Context and syntax usually clarify whether verdeckten is functioning as a verb form or as an adjective.