Contornou

Contornou is the third-person singular pretérito perfeito do indicativo of the Portuguese verb contornar. Contornar means to go around, to circumvent or bypass something, and also to outline or delineate the contour of an object. Therefore, contornou can describe both literal movement around a location or boundary and figurative actions such as overcoming or avoiding obstacles.

Etymology and senses. The verb derives from contorno, meaning outline or contour, with the sense of turning or tracing around something. In addition to physical movement, contornar is used for actions that skirt rules, difficulties, or challenges, as well as for drawing or shaping in art and design.

Usage. In geography or navigation, one might say that a ship contornou a ilha (went around the island). In everyday language, contornar is common to express overcoming or sidestepping complications, as in ele contornou as dificuldades or ela contornou as regras. In drawing or design, contornar can mean to outline or edge a figure, shaping its silhouette.

Conjugation note. Contornar is a regular -ar verb. The pretérito perfeito forms include eu contornei, tu contornaste, ele contornou, nós contornamos, vós contornastes, eles contornaram. The form contornou specifically marks the third-person singular in the past tense.

See also. Contorno (outline), contornar (to go around or outline), contorno da figura (silhouette contour).