lauhtui

Lauhtui is the past tense form of the Finnish verb lauhtua. Lauhtua is an intransitive verb with several closely related meanings, most commonly to thaw or melt as temperatures rise, to become milder or less intense, and to soften or temper something (for example a mood, a stance, or a situation). The form lauhtui is used when the subject performed the action in the past, for example referring to weather, ice, or other conditions that changed from a more solid or intense state to a softer or warmer one.

Etymology and related forms: The verb is derived from the adjective lauha, meaning mild or gentle, and is connected with the broader Finnish concept of warmth and reduction of intensity. The past participle is lauhtunut, which is used in compound tenses with the auxiliary olla (has thawed or has softened).

Usage: Lauhtua is frequently used in meteorology and narrative descriptions of physical changes, such as snow or ice melting and temperatures rising. It is also employed figuratively to describe easing or softening of situations, tensions, or attitudes. The phrase sää lauhtui (the weather thawed) is common, as are phrases like jäät lauhtuivat (the ice thawed) or tilanne lauhtui (the situation eased).

Examples:

- Sää lauhtui eilen. (The weather thawed yesterday.)

- Jäät lauhtuivat auringonpaisteessa. (The ice thawed in the sunshine.)

- Neuvottelujen jälkeen tilanne lauhtui. (After the negotiations the situation eased.)

See also: lauhtua, lauha, thawing, weather expressions.