Megkísérni

Megkísérni is a Hungarian verb formed with the prefix meg- added to the root kísér. It is used to express the act of attempting or trying to do something. In contemporary Hungarian, the more common infinitive for this meaning is megkísérelni; megkísérni is rarely used and is often regarded as archaic or stylistically marked. When present in modern texts, it is typically found in formal, literary, or historical contexts.

Semantics and usage

The core sense of megkísérni is to make a deliberate effort to achieve an outcome, usually with some degree of uncertainty about success. It denotes intention and an effort that may or may not succeed. The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object or an object clause, such as megkísérelni valamit (to attempt something) or megkísérelni megoldani egy feladatot (to attempt to solve a task). The nuance is stronger and more formal than megpróbálni, which is the common everyday equivalent.

Variants and related forms

The commonly recommended form for this meaning is megkísérelni; megkísérni appears much less frequently and can sound archaic or regional in modern usage. Related verbs include megpróbálni (to try) and kísérletezni (to experiment).

Examples

- Megkísérelni megoldani a feladatot nehéz, de fontos. (To attempt to solve the task is difficult but important.)

- A kutatók megkísérelték igazolni az eredményt. (The researchers attempted to verify the result.)

See also

Kísérteni (noting that reliable references primarily prefer megkísérelni for “to attempt”) and megpróbálni.