Piilottaen

Piilottaen is the Finnish adverbial participle form derived from the verb piilottaa, meaning to hide or conceal. It denotes that an action is performed in the act of hiding and is used to describe the manner or attitude with which something is done. As a non-finite form, piilottaen does not change for person or number and typically accompanies the main clause to add descriptive detail.

Form and usage: Piilottaen is formed from the verb stem with the suffix -en. It is commonly used in literary or descriptive writing to convey how something is done, often indicating simultaneous action or circumstance. The construction can be extended with objects, for example piilottaen totuuden (hiding the truth) or piilottaen hymyn kasvoillaan (hiding a smile on his face). In everyday speech, speakers may opt for simpler expressions, but piilottaen remains a recognizable and stylistically distinct device.

Etymology: The form is related to piilo, meaning “hidden place,” and to the verb piilottaa, which means “to hide” or “to conceal.” The adverbial participle mirrors similar forms in Finnish that describe manner, such as nauraen (laughing) or kulkien (walking), and it shares the function of conveying how an action is carried out.

Examples:

- Hän katsoi ympärilleen piilottaen hymyn kasvoilleen. (He looked around, hiding a smile on his face.)

- Hän puhui rauhallisesti, piilottaen hermostuneen jännityksensä. (He spoke calmly, hiding his nervous tension.)

Notes: Piilottaen is a formal, literary device and may feel ornate in everyday conversation. It invites precise, vivid description of actions performed in the act of hiding.