Pillantásra

Pillantásra is a Hungarian adverb formed from the noun pillantás, meaning “glance” or “look,” with the suffix -ra. It conveys the idea that something happens, or is perceived, in a glance or at the moment of looking. In translation, it is often rendered as “in a glance” or “at a glance,” depending on the context.

The form is used to indicate the manner or moment of perception, typically with verbs of perception, cognition, or recognition. It emphasizes immediacy rather than prolonged observation. While common in everyday language, pillantásra is also found in literary and expressive prose, where it can heighten the sense of quick perception or instant understanding.

Examples of usage include phrases such as:

- Pillantásra megértette, miről van szó. (At a glance he understood what it was about.)

- Pillantásra észrevette a hibát. (At a glance he noticed the error.)

- A képen pillantásra felismertem a barátomat. (In the photo I recognized my friend at a glance.)

Etymologically, pillantásra is built from the base noun pillantás plus the suffix -ra, which in Hungarian often marks the moment, direction, or manner of an action. As a fixed adverbial expression, its meaning is primarily temporal and perceptual, rather than spatial.

Overall, pillantásra functions as a concise way to express that recognition, understanding, or noticing occurred quickly, with only one brief look. It sits comfortably in both colloquial speech and more literary Hungarian, enriching descriptions of rapid perception.

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