Austatud

Austatud is an Estonian adjective and past participle form commonly translated into English as "respected" or "honored." It is derived from the verb austama ("to honor, to respect") and ultimately relates to the noun au ("honor"). In contemporary Estonian it functions both as an attributive adjective and as a fixed formula in formal address.

In usage, austatud appears in polite or ceremonial contexts, most notably in written and spoken salutations: for example, "Austatud daamid ja härrad" ("Respected ladies and gentlemen") or "Austatud proua Klaar" ("Dear/Respected Mrs. Klaar"). It conveys formality and deference and is a standard opening in official letters, speeches and invitations.

Grammatically, austatud inflects like other Estonian adjectives for case and number when used attributively; as a participle-derived adjective it can also appear in predicative constructions. The word is part of the register that marks social distance and respect, and its use is governed by conventions of politeness and formality rather than literal assessment of esteem.

Comparable expressions exist in many languages for formal address; in Estonian, austatud is one of the principal markers of elevated or ceremonial tone in public and official communication.