Zaujatý

Zaujatý (Czech and Slovak adjective) denotes a state of being influenced by personal feelings, preferences, or interests, and thus not impartial, or alternatively being strongly interested or captivated by something. It is commonly used in contexts describing partiality (e.g., "zaujatý soudce" — a biased judge) as well as in everyday speech to express strong engagement (e.g., "byl zaujatý výkonem" — he was captivated by the performance).

Etymology traces to common Slavic roots related to taking or seizing (prefix za- plus a verb root meaning to take or occupy), reflected in verbs meaning to interest, occupy, or take possession. The noun form is zaujatost (bias, partiality, engagement).

Grammar and forms: In Czech and Slovak the adjective inflects for gender, number, and case (Czech masculine zaujatý, feminine zaujatá, neuter zaujaté; plural forms vary by gender). Comparative and related adjectives include předpojatý (prejudiced) and zaujatý can contrast with nestranný (impartial) and objektivní (objective).

Usage notes: In legal, journalistic, and academic contexts it often carries a negative connotation of undue partiality. In cultural or personal contexts it may be neutral or positive when describing focused interest. Synonyms, nuances, and collocations depend on context; for formal claims of bias, terms like zaujatost or předpojatost are preferred. Example sentences: "Porota byla obviněna ze zaujatosti" (The jury was accused of bias); "Děti byly zaujaté novým příběhem" (The children were captivated by the new story).