támaszkodott

Támaszkodott is a past tense form of the Hungarian verb támaszkodni, meaning to lean on physically or to rely on or base oneself on something. The sense depends on context: it can describe a literal action, such as resting weight against a surface, or a figurative one, such as depending on someone or something for support or justification.

Etymology and meaning: támaszkodni derives from the noun támasz, meaning support or backing, with a verb-forming suffix that expresses action or behavior. The word carries two primary meanings: a concrete one (to lean against, to rest on) and a figurative one (to count on, to rely on). In everyday language, both senses are common and often interchangeable across contexts.

Usage and construction: In literal usage, the phrase typically involves a surface or point of contact, for example: A férfi támaszkodott a falhoz. or A karját támaszkodott a párkányra. In figurative usage, támaszkodni takes a target of reliance, for example: A kormány a külső segítségre támaszkodott, vagy A vállalat a bevételekre támaszkodott. The verb can pair with people or things: támaszkodott valakire (relied on someone) or támaszkodott valamire (relied on something).

Conjugation note: támaszkodni is a középfuttató (ik) igévé, so the past tense for third person singular is támaszkodott. Full paradigm for the past tense is: én támaszkodtam, te támaszkodtál, ő támaszkodott, mi támaszkodtunk, ti támaszkodtatok, ők támaszkodtak.

See also: támaszkodás (the act of leaning or relying), támasz (support).