zastavil

Zastavil is a term found in several Slavic languages. In Czech and Slovak, it is the masculine singular past tense form of the verb zastavit, meaning to stop, halt, or suspend. The word appears in other languages with related meanings and forms, reflecting a common Slavic prefix structure that signals the action of stopping.

Etymology and forms: The construction often involves a prefix z- combined with a root related to stopping or standing, a pattern shared by related verbs across the language family. Conjugation yields zastavil (masc.), zastavila (fem.), and zastavili (plural), among other forms, depending on language and grammatical gender.

Usage: Zastavil is used in narrative and descriptive prose to indicate that an agent caused something to stop in the past. It can describe stopping a vehicle, halting a process, or detaining someone, and it appears in both informal and formal registers.

Surname and toponymy: Beyond its verbal use, Zastavil can occur as a surname in some Slavic-speaking regions, though it is uncommon. There are no widely documented figures or places by this name in major reference works.

See also: zastavit, zastavit se, and related Slavic verbs with the z- prefix.

Notes: The exact meaning and usage may vary by language and dialect; in any given text, context will determine whether zastavil denotes stopping a vehicle, halting a process, or stopping someone’s actions.