Iseloomustama

Iseloomustama iseloomustama is an Estonian verb meaning to characterize or describe the character and traits of a person, group, or phenomenon. It is a transitive verb and is typically used when someone provides a summary of essential features or personality traits, rather than listing every detail.

The action is common in formal and analytical contexts as well as in everyday speech. It can refer to people, literary characters, organizations, or natural phenomena. In academic writing, iseloomustama is often used to outline key characteristics, compare subjects, or summarize findings, while in journalism or criticism it may be used to convey a concise portrait of a subject.

Etymology and related forms: the verb is formed from the noun iseloom (character, disposition) combined with the verbal suffix -ustama, which yields a verb meaning to describe or characterize. Related verbs include kirjeldama (to describe) and karakteriseerima (to characterize, often in a more technical sense).

Usage notes: iseloomustama is generally neutral in tone, but it can carry evaluative implications when describing positive or negative traits. It is suitable for both short summaries and longer analytical passages and can govern various objects, such as iseloomu, jooned, omadused, or kogu nähtuse omadused.

Examples:

- Ta iseloomustas raamatu peategelase iseloomu. (He described the main character’s character.)

- Uuring iseloomustab liigi omadusi. (The study characterizes the species’ features.)

- Kirjandusteosed iseloomustatakse selles artiklis peamiste süžejoonete kaudu. (This article characterizes literary works through major plotlines.)