Kiusaukselle

Kiusaukselle is the allative form of the Finnish noun kiusaus. Kiusaus can mean teasing or harassment as a social behavior, or temptation/enticement in moral or religious contexts. The word thus has both a interpersonal sense (pestering or taunting someone) and a more abstract sense (something that tempts a person to act against their better judgment).

Grammatical note: Kiusaukselle is used to indicate destination or direction toward kiusaus, typically in constructions with verbs such as altistua (to be exposed to) or antautua/vastustaa kiusausta. The exact meaning is determined by the surrounding context, with kiusaukselle aligning the action toward the temptation or toward the act of teasing.

Usage and nuance: In ethical or religious discussions, kiusaukselle often refers to temptation or enticement and is found in phrases like kiusaukselle altistuminen (exposure to temptation) and kiusaukselle antautuminen (succumbing to temptation). In everyday speech, kiusaus and kiusaaminen are more commonly used for teasing or harassment between people, while kiusaukselle emphasizes the directional or temptational aspect.

Etymology: The term derives from the verb kiusata, meaning to tease or torment. The noun kiusaus has been part of Finnish for several centuries and covers both social nuisance and moral temptation senses, with kiusaukselle functioning as the directional form in specific phrases.

See also: kiusaus, kiusaaminen, kiusata.