Kristallilisi

Kristallilisi is the Estonian plural partitive form of the adjective kristalliline, meaning crystalline. It describes several crystalline features or qualities in an indefinite sense and is typically used before a plural noun in the partitive case, for example kristallilisi omadusi (crystalline properties) or kristallilisi struktuure (crystalline structures). The form contrasts with other inflected forms of the same adjective, such as kristallilised (nominative plural) or kristallilise (genitive singular).

Etymology and formation: kristalliline derives from kristall- (crystal) plus the suffix -iline, which marks a characteristic or relation. The noun kristall- itself is borrowed from German Kristall, with deeper roots in Latin crystallum. The grammatical shape kristallilisi reflects standard Estonian adjective inflection rules for the partitive plural.

Usage and context: kristallilisi is common in scientific and technical registers, including mineralogy, crystallography, and materials science, where it describes substances or structures that have crystalline characteristics. It can also appear in descriptive or figurative language to evoke a crystalline appearance or facet-like qualities. As a general rule, Estonian adjectives agree with the noun they modify in number and case, so kristallilisi will appear in its appropriate inflected form to fit the sentence.

See also: crystal, crystalline, Estonian adjective inflection, Estonian grammar.