Hirmutada

Hirmutada is an Estonian verb meaning to frighten, scare, or intimidate someone. It describes causing fear or anxiety in another person, either through threats, alarming behavior, or intimidating actions. The verb is transitive and governs a direct object, as in “ta hirmutas mind” (he frightened me) or “lapsed hirmutatakse loodusega” (children are frightened by nature).

Etymology and related forms: hirmutada is formed from the noun hirm, meaning fear, with a causative or affective verb suffix that yields “to cause fear in someone.” Related nouns include hirm (fear), hirmutamine (the act of frightening or intimidation), and hirmutaja (someone who frightens or intimidates).

Conjugation and usage: hirmutada follows standard Estonian verb patterns. Present tense: ma hirmutan, sa hirmutad, ta hirmutab, me hirmutame, te hirmutate, nad hirmutavad. Past tense: ma hirmutasin, sa hirmutasid, ta hirmutas, me hirmutasime, te hirmutasite, nad hirmutasid. Perfect tense: olen hirmutanud, oled hirmutanud, on hirmutanud, oleme hirmutanud, olete hirmutanud, on hirmutanud. Imperative forms include hirmuta (you, singular) and hirmutage (you, plural); negative imperative is ära hirmuta. The verb is used both in literal contexts (threatening behavior, direct threats) and in figurative senses (hirmutavad lood, stories that frighten).

Notes: hirmutada can carry strong negative connotations, often associated with bullying, coercion, or psychological pressure. While it is common in everyday Estonian, its ethical implications depend on context, intensity, and the presence of coercion or harm.