Accostati

Accostati is the plural masculine form of the Italian past participle accostato, derived from the verb accostare. The word functions mainly as an adjective meaning “placed side by side” or “adjacent,” and as the past participle used in compound tenses with the auxiliary avere or essere, depending on voice and transitivity. It can also appear in the reflexive form accostarsi, meaning to approach or come close to someone or something.

In its adjectival use, accostati describes objects or structures that are near or touching each other. For example, due palazzi accostati lungo una strada means two adjacent buildings along a street. In the intransitive sense, accostarsi and its past participle accostati indicate the action of approaching: i ragazzi si sono accostati al cancello translates to the boys have approached the gate.

Grammatical notes: Accostati agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies when used as an adjective (e.g., palazzi accostati). As a past participle, its auxiliary can be avere or essere, with agreement in compound tenses when the auxiliary is essere or when there is a direct object preceding the participle. The related verbs accostare (to bring near, to pair, to place beside) and accostarsi (to approach) share the same semantic field, providing the core meaning of proximity or contact.

See also: accostare, accostarsi, accostamento, proximal terminology related to proximity and contact.