Ikiaikaiset

Ikiaikaiset is Finnish an adjective in plural form meaning things that belong to the distant past or possess a sense of timeless antiquity. It is commonly used to describe myths, legends, long-standing traditions, ancient landscapes, or beings considered primordial or enduring. In literature and folklore, ikiaikaiset conveys a grand or epic sense of age, and it can appear in both descriptive prose and fantasy writing.

The base form is ikiaikainen (singular); ikiaikaiset is the plural nominative. The word is built from ikiaika, meaning an extremely long time or ancient era, with the suffix -inen that forms adjectives. Ikiaikainen is related to other Finnish terms for antiquity, such as muinainen or ikivanha, though ikiaikainen often carries a stronger sense of mythic or eternal duration.

Usage and nuance: Ikiaikaiset tends to emphasize a state or quality of enduring age rather than simply being old. It is frequently used with plural nouns, for example ikiaikaiset tarinat (ancient stories), ikiaikaiset jumalat (primordial gods), or ikiaikaiset perinteet (age-old traditions). In contemporary writing, the term can elevate descriptions of culture, landscapes, or belief systems by invoking a sense of timelessness or universality. It remains primarily a literary or descriptive device rather than a common everyday term. See also ikiaikainen, ikiaikaisuus, muinainen for related notions of antiquity.