Hoidmiseks

Hoidmiseks is a non-finite verbal form in Estonian derived from the verb hoidma, meaning to keep, hold, or store. The suffix -miseks attaches to the verb stem to create a purpose infinitive, roughly equivalent to “in order to keep” or “for keeping.” It is used to express the purpose of an action or the intended use of an object, functioning similarly to English “for keeping” or “to keep.”

In practice, hoidmiseks appears in phrases that indicate why something is done or how something should be used. It can modify nouns in noun phrases describing purpose, as in contexts related to protection, safekeeping, storage, or preservation. It is not a finite verb form on its own; rather, it forms part of a non-finite construction that links to other elements in the sentence.

Common usage patterns include phrases indicating intended use or requirement. For example, hoidmiseks can appear after a noun to specify what the item is for, such as dokumentide hoidmiseks meaning “for keeping documents.” It can also appear in clauses that describe the purpose of an action, such as See on mõeldud hoidmiseks—“This is intended for keeping.”

Hoidmiseks is part of a broader set of Estonian purpose-infinitives formed with -miseks, which align with the language’s broader approach to non-finite verb forms that express purpose or function. When translating or interpreting, the exact sense depends on context, but the core idea remains: the form marks that the action or object is intended for the purpose of keeping something safe, intact, or stored.