entglitt

Entglitt is the simple past tense form of the German verb entgleiten, which means to slip away from someone’s grasp or to escape one’s hold. The term can describe a physical slipping of an object or a figurative slipping, such as an opportunity, memory, or moment that eludes someone.

Etymology and usage: Entgleiten is formed from the prefix ent- (often indicating separation or removal) and gleiten (to glide). The verb is used in literary, formal, or descriptive contexts. The present tense is entgleiten; the simple past forms include entglitt (third-person singular) and entglitten (past participle). In sentences, the thing that slips away is typically the subject, with the person affected in the dative case, as in Der Moment entglitt ihm.

Grammatical notes: A common construction is etwas entgleitet jemandem or Der Moment entglitt mir. The term conveys a sense of loss or missed opportunity and is often used to describe fleeting chances, shifting circumstances, or memories that cannot be recalled.

Examples:

- Der Moment entglitt ihm. (The moment slipped away from him.)

- Die Chance entglitt ihr in letzter Minute. (The opportunity slipped away from her in the last minute.)

- Der Plan entglitt dem Team in der Endphase. (The plan slipped away from the team in the final phase.)

Related terms: entgleiten (the base verb), entkommen (to escape, more general), and phrases describing missed opportunities or fading memories.