määrittelivät

määrittelivät is the past tense plural form of the Finnish verb "määritellä". "Määritellä" means to define, to specify, to determine, or to characterize. Therefore, "määrittelivät" translates to "they defined," "they specified," "they determined," or "they characterized." This verb is commonly used in academic, technical, and everyday contexts when explaining the meaning of a term, the boundaries of a concept, or the characteristics of something. For example, in a scientific paper, one might say "Tutkijat määrittelivät uuden lajin ominaisuudet" which translates to "The researchers defined the characteristics of the new species." In a legal document, it could mean "Sopimus määrittelivät osapuolten oikeudet ja velvollisuudet," meaning "The contract determined the rights and obligations of the parties." The word's usage is versatile, covering the act of setting clear limits, explaining essence, or establishing criteria. It is a fundamental verb in the Finnish language for conveying precise understanding and establishing factual basis.