alakjaiban

alakjaiban is a Hungarian expression meaning “in its forms” or “in its appearances.” It is formed from the noun alak, meaning form or shape, combined with the possessive suffix -ja (its) and the inessive plural suffix -iban (in), yielding the sense of “in its forms.” The phrase is used to discuss the multiple forms, guises, or manifestations that something can take, often in literary, artistic, scholarly, or analytical contexts.

Etymology and grammar notes: The base word alak denotes form or shape, and the suffix sequence -ja + -iban builds a postpositional noun phrase functioning as a locative modifier. In Hungarian, alakjaiban typically modifies nouns or entire clauses to indicate variation across forms rather than a single form. It is predominantly a noun phrase rather than an adverb, though it can appear in varied syntactic positions depending on emphasis.

Usage and nuance: The expression is appropriate when describing things with several appearances or phases, such as works of art, narratives, characters, or phenomena that present different aspects. It can convey literal diversity of physical form or metaphorical diversity in behavior, interpretation, or representation.

Examples:

- A regény alakjaiban több idősáv jelenik meg. (In the novel’s forms, several time periods appear.)

- A festmény alakjaiban az idő múlását is kifejezi. (In the painting’s forms, the passage of time is also expressed.)

See also: alak, alakváltozat.