liittoutuivat
Liittoutuivat is the third-person plural past tense form of the Finnish verb "liittyä," which means "to join" or "to become affiliated." Therefore, "liittoutuivat" translates directly to "they joined" or "they allied." In historical contexts, this verb often refers to nations or groups forming alliances or coalitions. For instance, a sentence might describe how countries liittoutuivat during a conflict, indicating that they formed a military or political alliance. The word emphasizes the action of coming together and establishing a connection or union between previously separate entities. It suggests a deliberate act of association, often for mutual benefit or against a common adversary. The formation of alliances is a recurring theme in political and military history, and "liittoutuivat" serves as a concise way to describe this process in Finnish.