éclata

Éclata is the passé simple (past historic) third-person singular form of the French verb éclater, meaning to burst, explode, or to break out. In modern French, this tense is mostly literary and is seldom used in everyday speech, where the passé composé is preferred.

Etymology: The verb éclater derives from Old French esclater; the precise origin is uncertain, but it has long been used to describe physical bursting as well as figurative bursts (laughter, applause).

Conjugation: The verb is a regular -er verb. In the passé simple, the forms are je éclatai, tu éclatas, il éclata, nous éclatâmes, vous éclatâtes, ils éclatèrent. Éclata is the third-person singular form, used in historical narratives and literary texts.

Usage: Examples include sentences such as "Le coup éclata dans la foule" or "Le silence éclata quand la porte s’ouvrit." In contemporary writing, one would normally say "Le coup a éclaté" (passé composé).

Related terms: Éclat (noun) meaning brilliance, splendor, or a sudden outburst; éclatant (adjective) meaning shining or brilliant; éclatement (noun) meaning the act of bursting.

See also: éclater, éclatement.