megvédni

Megvédni is a Hungarian verb in the infinitive form meaning to protect or defend. It is the perfective counterpart of védeni, formed with the prefix meg- added to the root védeni, and it conveys the idea of completing or intensifying the act of defense.

Megvédni is transitive and takes a direct object. It is used in physical, legal, moral, or rhetorical contexts to shield someone or something from danger, threat, or criticism. Examples include defending a friend, defending rights, or defending a position in an argument. Example sentences: Megvédtem a testvéremet. (I protected my sibling.) Megvédjük az országot a támadástól. (We will defend the country from the attack.)

Grammatical notes: Megvédni marks the action as perfective. In past tense forms, you would typically see megvédtem (I defended) or megvédte (he/she defended). The past participle megvédett can appear in compound tenses. Present tense forms follow the standard conjugation pattern of -ni verbs with the meg- prefix, varying by person and number. The verb remains transitive and requires an object to specify what is being protected or defended.

Etymology: The word is built from védeni (to defend) with the prefixed meg-, a common Hungarian mechanism for forming perfective or intensified aspects. The resulting megvédni emphasizes a completed or thorough act of protection.

See also: védeni, véd, védelmezés, jogvédelem.