erkundete

Erkundete is the simple past tense form of the German verb erkunden, meaning to explore, survey, or investigate. In narrative prose it expresses a completed action in the past, as in er erkundete das Gelände, “he explored the terrain.” The corresponding present tense forms are ich erkunde, du erkundest, er erkundet; in the past plural forms, wir erkundeten, ihr erkundetet, sie erkundeten.

Etymology and related terms: Erkunden derives from the prefix er- combined with kundig, meaning knowledgeable. Related nouns include Erkundung (exploration or reconnaissance) and Erkundigung (inquiry or investigation). The verb can denote physical exploration as well as information gathering or surveying a situation.

Usage and nuance: The simple past form erkundete is common in written German, especially in historical narratives and descriptive reports. In everyday spoken language, the Perfekt form hat erkundet is often used instead to describe past actions. Erkunden can cover a range from literal field exploration to figurative inquiries about a topic or area.

See also: Erkunden, Erkundung, Erkundigung, Erforschung.

Example: Erkundete er die Höhlen? — Did he explore the caves? In English: He explored the caves.