Dirigerte

Dirigerte is a verb form used in Norwegian to indicate the simple past tense of the verb dirigere, meaning to direct, lead, or conduct. It is used for actions completed in the past, such as directing a performance, guiding a project, or leading an organization.

Etymology and usage context: dirigerte derives from the French verb diriger, which in turn comes from Latin dirigere, meaning to set in a straight line or to direct. In Norwegian, dirigerte is commonly found in narrative past contexts, while the corresponding past participle is dirigert (as in har dirigert, “has directed”). In Danish, the analogous simple past form is dirigerede, with the past participle dirigeret.

Grammar notes: dirigerte functions as a finite past tense form in Norwegian, not as a participle. The language distinguishes between the simple past (dirigerte) and the perfect (har dirigert). For learners, it is important to recognize the parallel forms in related languages: Norwegian uses dirigerte (past) and dirigert (participle), while Danish uses dirigerede (past) and dirigeret (participle). Swedish uses dirigerade for the past tense.

Examples:

- Han dirigerte orkesteret i går. (He directed/conducted the orchestra yesterday.)

- Lederen dirigerte prosjektet gjennom krisen. (The leader directed the project through the crisis.)

See also: dirigere, dirigent, and related terms in Scandinavian languages.