vorgegebenem

Vorgegeben is a German past participle of the verb vorgeben, used as an adjective to mean "prescribed," "specified," or "predetermined." When used attributively, it describes something that has been laid down as a rule, standard, or guideline.

The word form vorgegebenem is one inflected variant of vorgegeben. In German, adjectives change endings according to case, number, gender, and the presence or absence of a determiner. vorgegebenem appears as the dative singular form when the noun is masculine or neuter and no article precedes it (strong declension). For example: in vorgegebenem Rahmen (in a prescribed framework) or mit vorgegebenem Maß (with a prescribed measure). By contrast, with a definite article the form would typically be vorgegebenen (dem vorgegebenen Maß) and with a definite plural vormers would appear as vorgegebenen as well.

Common usage and meaning: vorgegeben is common in technical, administrative, and formal language, often to express criteria, limits, or parameters that have been set beforehand. Examples include vorgegebene Kriterien (specified criteria), vorgegebenes Maß (prescribed measure), and vorgegebenen Rahmen (prescribed framework). It is distinct from vorgeben in meanings related to pretence (to pretend) versus specification (to set forth as a rule).

Etymology and nuance: the construction combines vor- (prefix meaning “before,” “in advance”) with geben (to give or present). As a participle used as an adjective, vorgegeben emphasizes that something is officially established or required, rather than merely suggested. In English, its sense corresponds to prescribed or specified.