Távtól

Távtól is a form in Hungarian that marks origin or starting point in space, formed from the noun táv (distance) with the ablative suffix -tól. The resulting form távtól means “from a distance” or “from afar.” It is used in spatial expressions to indicate a point from which something begins or is measured. In many contexts it appears alongside phrases that specify a reference distance, such as távtól számítva or távtól függően.

Morphology and usage

Távtól is created by attaching the suffix -tól to the noun táv. The construction behaves like a standard ablative expression, indicating source or starting point. It tends to occur in more formal, technical, or literary language than in everyday conversation. The form coexists with other distance-related phrases such as from a place (tól, from) and from afar (távolról), but távtól emphasizes the distance as the reference point.

Common collocations

- távtól számítva, meaning “calculated from a given distance” or “as of a distance.”

- távtól függően, meaning “depending on the distance.”

- távtól függetlenül, meaning “independent of the distance” or “regardless of the distance.”

Notes

Távtól interacts with other Hungarian case forms and postpositions the same way as related ablative constructions. It is primarily a descriptive or technical device rather than a frequently used everyday expression, but it appears in scientific, navigational, or descriptive prose when a precise reference to distance is required. Related terms include tól/-től (from) and táv (distance).