Krooniliselt

Krooniliselt is an Estonian adverb that appears mainly in two senses, depending on context. In medical and descriptive language it can convey a meaning related to chronic, long-lasting conditions. In standard usage, however, the form is uncommon for describing sequences in time, where a different word is preferred.

Etymology and relation to similar words. The adverb is formed from the adjective krooniline (chronic) with the typical Estonian adverbial suffix -iselt. It shares a semantic field with related terms such as krooniline and kronoloogiline, which connects to the broader concept of time as studied in kronoloogia (chronology). The latter is the more common term for arranging events by time.

Usage and frequency. In contemporary Estonian, krooniliselt is relatively rare and is most often found in specialized or formal medical texts to emphasize persistence or duration. For ordering events chronologically, writers typically use kronoloogiliselt rather than krooniliselt. When used outside medical contexts, its meaning can resemble “in a chronic manner,” which may sound unusual in everyday language and can be considered archaic or stylistically marked.

Examples. If used in the chronic sense, one might encounter phrases that highlight long-term persistence, though many speakers would prefer clearer wording with krooniline or kronoloogiline alternatives. For time ordering, kronoloogiliselt remains the standard choice.

See also: krooniline, kronoloogiline, kronoloogia.