desencadeaste

Desencadeaste is the second-person singular preterite indicative form of the Portuguese verb desencadear, meaning to trigger, unleash, or set off. It is used when the subject (tu) caused a process or sequence of events to begin, typically describing a completed action in the past. The term can be used both in literal contexts (activating a mechanism, opening a valve) and in figurative contexts (starting a controversy, a chain reaction).

Etymology: Desencadear is built from des- (a prefix suggesting reversal or undoing in some senses) and encadear (to chain), which itself comes from cadeia (chain). The sense evolved from removing a chain to releasing or initiating a chain of consequences.

Usage: In European Portuguese and other dialects that preserve the tu form, desencadeaste appears as the natural past form for "you triggered." In Brazilian Portuguese, the more common past tense for the second person is desencadeou (você desencadeou); some speakers still use tu forms in informal or literary contexts.

Conjugation note: Desencadeaste is a regular preterite form for the tu subject of desencadear.

Examples: Tu desencadeaste uma reação em cadeia ao anunciar a nova política. Ao abrir aquela válvula, desencadeaste um conjunto de eventos que foi difícil de controlar.

See also: desencadear, cadeia, reação em cadeia.