ületasid

ületasid is an Estonian verb form. It is the past tense, third-person plural, of the verb ületama, which means to cross over, pass over, or to surpass. The form can refer to a physical crossing as well as a figurative surpassing of a limit, threshold, or expectation.

Etymology and meaning: ületama combines the prefix üle- meaning over or across with the root that denotes crossing or going beyond. In this sense, ületasid conveys that the subjects completed the act in the past. The meaning can be literal (crossing a river, border, or roadway) or figurative (exceeding a budget, a limit, or expectations).

Usage: In news reports, literature, and everyday speech, ületasid is used to describe actions by multiple subjects in the past. It is commonly paired with nouns describing the thing crossed or the limit surpassed, such as borders, budgets, or expectations. It can also appear in more abstract statements about performance or achievement.

Grammatical notes: The infinitive form is ületama. The past tense singular forms differ from the plural; ületasid specifically marks third-person plural past. The subject of the sentence is typically stated explicitly (nad) or inferred from context.

Example sentences:

- Nad ületasid piirid. (They crossed the borders.)

- Need kulud ületasid eelarvet. (These costs exceeded the budget.)

- Nad ületasid kõik ootused. (They surpassed all expectations.)

Overall, ületasid is a versatile past-tense form used to describe both physical crossing and figurative surpassing by a group.