körülvették

Körülvették is a Hungarian verb form built with the prefixed körül- meaning around or encircling. It represents the third-person plural past tense of a verb stem that conveys an encircling action. The exact meaning depends on the underlying verb stem, but it is typically translated as “they surrounded” or “they encircled.” The prefix körül- can carry both literal and figurative senses, so the nuance of körülvették varies with context.

Usage and style: The form is most common in historical, literary, or carefully described narrative prose. In everyday contemporary Hungarian, speakers are more likely to use alternatives such as körülkerítették (they enclosed by surrounding with a barrier) or other verbs that capture the intended nuance more directly. Körülvették tends to appear in older texts or stylistic passages and may sound archaic in modern speech.

Example sentences:

- A tábort körülvették. (They surrounded the camp.)

- A futballstadion körülvették a rendőrök. (The stadium was surrounded by police.)

Etymology and morphology: The form arises from the combination of the prefix körül- with a verb stem that expresses surrounding or encircling, plus the past tense suffix -tték/-ték to mark third-person plural perfective past. The exact stem varies by context, so the base verb can differ across usages.

See also: körül- prefix, körülkerítették, körülvesz (to surround), körülhatárolás (circumscription).

References: Entries in Hungarian dictionaries note körülvették as the finite past-tense form of körül- prefixed verbs, especially in older or literary registers.