hájit

Hájit is a Czech verb meaning to defend, advocate, or shield someone or something from danger, loss, or misrepresentation. It is used in legal, political, and everyday contexts to describe actively supporting a person, group, or idea. The nuance is that hájit emphasizes presenting a defense or argument in favor of someone or something, rather than merely warding off harm. The verb has a common perfective counterpart, obhájit, which expresses a completed defense or vindication.

Hájit is imperfective; obhájit is its perfective counterpart. In the present tense, it follows the standard -it verb conjugation: já hájím, ty hájíš, on hájí, my hájíme, vy hájíte, oni hájí. In past tense, formed with the auxiliary být: já jsem hájil (m), já jsem hájila (f); ty jsi hájil/hájila; on hájil; my jsme hájili; vy jste hájili; oni hájili. For example: "On hájí práva občanů." "Včera jsem hájil svá práva na soudu."

Etymology and related terms: the exact origin of hájit is unclear; it is linguistically connected to háj meaning defense or guard, and by extension to other verbs such as bránit (to defend) or chránit (to protect).

Usage notes: hájit is common in formal and semi-formal writing, particularly in law, politics, and public discourse. The perfective partner obhájit is used when the defense or vindication is completed, as in "obhájil svá práva."