Ebaõnnestuda

Ebaõnnestuda is an Estonian verb meaning to fail or to be unsuccessful, the negative form of õnnestuda (to succeed). It is used to describe that an attempt, plan, project, or result did not achieve its intended goal.

Etymology and formation: The word is formed by adding the negating prefix eba- to õnnestuda. The prefix eba- denotes negation and is commonly attached to verbs and nouns to express failure or lack of success.

Usage and examples: Ebaõnnestuda is typically intransitive; the subject is the entity that fails. Common constructions include katse ebaõnnestus (the attempt failed), projekti ebaõnnestus (the project failed), and projekti ebaõnnestumine (the project’s failure). It can also describe a failed outcome in broader contexts, such as ettevõtmine or plaan. Adjectival forms include ebaõnnestunud meaning failed or unsuccessful, as in ebaõnnestunud katse (a failed experiment).

Derivatives and related terms: The noun form ebaõnnestumine expresses the state or event of failure. The adjective ebaõnnestunud describes something that has failed. The verb’s positive counterpart is õnnestuda, meaning to succeed, with the common antonym being ebaõnnestuda.

See also: Õnnestuda, the positive form meaning to succeed; ebaõnnestumine, the noun for failure; ebaõnnestunud, the adjective for failed or unsuccessful.

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