Piiloutunut

Piiloutunut is a Finnish past participle derived from the verb piiloutua, meaning to hide oneself. Used as an adjective, it describes someone or something that has hidden or is out of sight. The form functions in predicative constructions (for example, on piiloutunut, meaning has hidden) and as an attributive adjective (piiloutunut mies, the hidden man). It agrees with the noun in number and case, as in piiloutuneen miehen (of the hidden man) or piiloutuneet henkilöt (the hidden people).

Etymology and forms: The participle is formed from piiloutua plus the suffix -nut, following the pattern of other Finnish -nut participles. In sentences, it can appear in various tenses with auxiliary verbs, most notably on/piiloutunut (has hidden) and oli/piiloutunut (had hidden). When used as an attributive adjective, it inflects for case and number just like other adjectives.

Usage: The term commonly refers to a person who has chosen to conceal themselves from others, but it can also describe animals or objects that are hidden. It often implies deliberate concealment rather than accidental absence. In many contexts, piiloutunut emphasizes the state resulting from an act of hiding rather than the act itself.

Related terms: piiloutuminen (the act of hiding), piiloutua (to hide oneself), piilotettu (hidden by someone else, or a thing that has been hidden).

Examples: Hän on piiloutunut pensaiden taakse. (He has hidden behind the bushes.)