késleltették

Késleltették is a Hungarian verb form meaning “they delayed” or “they caused to be delayed.” It is the third-person plural past definite form of the transitive verb késleltetni, which means to delay, postpone, or hold up. The action is typically directed at a direct object representing what was delayed, such as a decision, a deadline, a shipment, or an announcement.

Etymology and morphology: késleltetni derives from the root késlelt- (related to lateness or delay) with the causative/conative suffix -et- and the past definite suffix -ték in the third-person plural. The result is késleltették, with the double t reflecting the stem boundary and the suffix.

Usage: The form is common in formal, journalistic, and administrative Hungarian when reporting that an actor caused a postponement. The agent may be explicit (ők, a cég, a kormány) or understood from context. Related nouns include késleltetés (delay, postponement) and the verb késleltetni (to delay).

Examples:

- A döntést késleltették. (They delayed the decision.)

- A határidőt késleltették a vizsgálat miatt. (They postponed the deadline because of the investigation.)

Notes: While késleltetni can be used in many contexts, késleltették specifically conveys a completed act of delaying by some agent. The form is primarily used when the subject performing the delay is known or being emphasized in the sentence.