Idtávon

Idtávon is a Hungarian adverbial expression used to indicate that an action or phenomenon occurs over a span of time. The term is formed from idő (time) and táv (distance) and refers to the temporal extent of a process rather than a physical distance.

Usage and status: In standard Hungarian, idtávon is relatively rare and not always included in dictionaries. It tends to appear in formal, scientific, or analytical prose where the author wants to emphasize duration over a defined period. In everyday language, speakers more commonly use phrases such as időn át, az idők folyamán, or a vizsgálat során to express a similar idea.

Grammatical notes: As an adverbial modifier, idtávon typically precedes the verb in simple clauses, for example: A vizsgálat idtávon zajlott 2010 és 2020 között. In longer sentences, it can modify predicates to highlight temporal scope.

Examples: A klímaváltozás idtávon vizsgálható hatásai közé tartozik a hőmérséklet emelkedés trendje. A projekt idtávon néhány év alatt megvalósított mérföldköveket.

Relation to other terms: Idtávon echoes the idea of duration found in phrases like időn át or az idők folyamán, but it remains a more specialized or literary-technical option. Its use signals a focus on temporal length rather than discrete events.

See also: idő, táv, időn át, az idők folyamán.