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festlegen

determine

verb FEST-lay-gen Less Common
Communication Speech

Origin: compound of fest ('firm') + legen ('to lay')

Also means

set

Usage Note

festlegen is separable and literally means 'to lay down firmly', hence 'to fix or stipulate', as in einen Termin festlegen ('to set an appointment'). The reflexive sich festlegen means 'to commit oneself' to a decision.

Examples

"Wir legen den Termin morgen fest."

Natural Translation

We'll set the date tomorrow.

Literal Translation

We lay the date tomorrow down.

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