otoczony

Otoczony is a Polish past passive participle and adjective derived from the verb otoczyć, meaning to surround or encircle. It denotes that someone or something has been surrounded by other people, objects, or circumstances. In Polish, otoczony functions like an adjective: it agrees with the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies. Common forms include otoczony (masc. singular), otoczona (fem. singular), and otoczone (neut. singular; also used in plural forms). In the plural, forms such as otoczeni (masc. personal) and otoczone (fem./neut. plural) are used.

Usage and nuance: otoczony can describe literal enclosure, as in twierdza otoczona murami (a fortress surrounded by walls), or a physical crowd or environment, as in las otoczony górami (a forest surrounded by mountains). It also appears in figurative contexts, for example being otoczony problemami (surrounded by problems) or otoczony ochroną (protected, under guard). The phrase by być otoczonym expresses the state of being surrounded, whether by people, obstacles, or circumstances.

Related terms: otoczenie (environment, surroundings) is the noun form related to the state described by otoczony. The verbs otaczać and otoczyć are the active counterparts, with otoczyć yielding the participle otoczony.

Etymology: otoczony is formed from the verb otoczyć with the standard Polish participial suffixes and the prefix o-, following common patterns for past passive participles.