elterült

Elterült is a Hungarian word functioning as the past participle of the verb elterülni, and it also serves as an adjective. It describes something that has spread out, stretched over a surface, or a person or object that lies flat or sprawled. The sense emphasizes the result of spreading rather than the action of starting to spread.

Etymology and forms: The word comes from the prefix el- meaning “completely” or “away” combined with terülni, meaning “to lie down” or “to spread.” It forms the past participle elterült and related derivatives such as elterülés (the act or result of spreading) and terülő (spreading).

Usage and nuance: In usage, elterült is typically found in descriptive prose and in descriptions of landscapes, weather, or scenes where something has spread across a surface. Examples include fog spreading over a valley or smoke lying across the sky. It can also describe a person or object that has laid itself out, such as “elterült a fűben” meaning someone lay spread out on the grass. The term conveys a sense of breadth and fullness of spread and often implies a settled, observable state rather than a brief moment.

See also: elterül, terülés, terülő.