Empeoraron

Empeoraron is the third-person plural form of the Spanish verb empeorar in the pretérito indefinido (simple past). It is used to describe a completed deterioration of a situation, condition, or state by the past moment referenced. The form can refer to subjects such as people, groups, or collective entities, for example, "las condiciones empeoraron" or "los resultados empeoraron."

Etymology and characteristics: Empeorar comes from the adjective peor, meaning worse, with the prefix em- (a variant of en-) that yields a causative or intensifying sense, roughly “to make worse.” The verb is regular in its conjugation in common tenses. The ending -aron marks the third-person plural in the pretérito indefinido (empeoraron). Related forms include empeoré (yo), empeoraste (tú), empeoró (él/ella/Ud.), and, in noun form, empeoramiento, which denotes a worsening or deterioration.

Usage and context: Empeorar is commonly used to describe deteriorations in health, economic conditions, weather, safety, performance, or relationships. It often conveys a sense of progression from a previous state toward a worse one. Common collocations include empeorar la salud, empeorar la situación, and empeoraron las temperaturas. In narrative reporting, empeoraron can mark a turning point where the situation becomes more negative than before.

See also: empeoramiento (noun), empeorar (the base verb), deteriorar, agravar.