Elönteni

Elönteni is a Hungarian verb meaning to pour over, to flood, or to overflow something, often with water, liquid, or other substances, and by extension to overwhelm something or someone. The word is formed with the prefix el- added to the verbönt "önteni" (to pour), where el- signals completion, spread, or overreach.

Usage and meanings

- Physical flooding or overfilling: a river or rain can elönteni a land or a room can be elöntött a pincét by water. Examples include elönteni a szobát, elöntötte a folyó a partot, vagy elönteni a tálat a túl sok leves miatt.

- Metaphorical or figurative overload: a közönséget érzelem elöntötte, meaning the audience was overwhelmed by emotion; érzelmektől elöntve/elöntött állapotban lehet jellemezni a személyt vagy a hangulatot.

- Transitive use and aspect: the base infinitive elönteni governs its object (elönteni valamit). In past tense the form is elöntötte, in present elönti, and in future elönti valószínűleg.

Etymology and related forms

- Elönteni consists of the prefix el- plus the verbönt "önteni" (to pour). The prefix emphasizes spreading over a surface or area, often implying a forceful or complete action.

- Related verbs include önteni (to pour) and aós kapcsolódó kifejezések, such as elönt és elöntött, to describe the progression from ongoing to completed flooding or overwhelming.

Typical contexts

- Describing floods caused by natural events (rivers, rain) or accidental spills (a konyhában elöntötte a vizet).

- Expressing intense emotional or atmospheric overwhelm (érzelmektől elöntött).

- Journalistic or descriptive prose to convey rapid, wide-reaching intrusion of liquid or figurative force into a space or situation.

Notes

- The verb is predominantly used with a direct object when referring to what is being flooded or overwhelmed. In figurative usage, the object can be a person, space, or mood.