Zakotvi

Zakotvi is a Czech verb form that appears as the imperative singular of the verb zakotvit, meaning to anchor a vessel or to secure something by anchoring. In nautical contexts, to zakotvit a ship is to drop anchor and make the vessel secure against wind and current. The term can also be used metaphorically to indicate making something firm or stable.

In standard Czech spelling, zakotvi functions as the command form addressed to one person. The infinitive is zakotvit. The present tense forms include zakotví (he/she/it anchors), while the past tense forms include zakotvil (masc.), zakotvila (fem.), and zakotvili (plural). The noun zakotvení denotes the act or result of anchoring, i.e., anchorage, and the adjective zakotvený describes something that is anchored or secured.

Etymology and derivation: zakotvi is built from the stem related to kotva (anchor) with the prefix za- and the verbal suffix -vit, forming a perfective verb meaning to anchor. This pattern reflects a common Slavic method of creating action verbs from nouns or stems associated with the action.

Usage and context: The term appears in nautical literature, maritime instructions, and historical descriptions of navigation. In everyday speech, speakers often use more general verbs for securing, but zakotvit and its imperative zakotvi are understood in technical or formal contexts. See also kotva, zakotvení, zakotvit.