määräsivät

Määräsivät is the third-person plural past indicative form of the Finnish verb määrätä. This verb generally translates to "to determine," "to order," "to appoint," or "to assign." Therefore, "määräsivät" signifies that a group of individuals or entities performed one of these actions in the past.

The specific meaning of "määräsivät" depends heavily on the context in which it is used. For example, if used in a legal context, it might mean "they ordered" or "they decreed." In a more general sense, it could imply "they decided" or "they set." If referring to appointments, it would mean "they appointed" or "they assigned" individuals to positions or tasks.

The verb "määrätä" itself is quite versatile. Its root, "määrä," relates to quantity, amount, or limit. This etymological connection suggests that the act of "määrätä" often involves setting a specific limit, amount, or condition. Hence, when used in the past tense plural, "määräsivät" implies that a collective body established, decided upon, or commanded something in a definitive manner.