Ebaharilikku

Ebaharilikku is a term used in Estonian linguistics to denote the partitive singular form of the adjective ebaharilik, which means "unusual." The base ebaharilik is formed from the negating prefix eba- added to harilik, meaning "ordinary" or "common." The combination yields the lexical meaning of “not ordinary” or “unusual.”

In Estonian grammar, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in number and case. The partitive singular form ebaharilikku is used when the noun is in the partitive case or when a partitive construction is required in the sentence, such as after negation or with certain predicates that take a partitive complement. The appearance of ebaharilikku reflects the broader system in which adjectives inflect to align with the grammatical role of their noun.

Usage and context: ebahariliku-style forms are most commonly observed in written Estonian, particularly in literary or academic prose, where authors often exploit different case forms for stylistic or syntactic reasons. The form is of particular interest to students of Estonian morphology and syntax, as it provides a clear example of how negation and partitive constructions interact with adjective inflection.

See also: Estonian language, ebaharilik, partitive case, adjective declension, negation prefix eba-.