Piirteeksi

Piirteeksi is a Finnish noun form meaning “as a feature” or “into a characteristic.” It is the translative singular of piirre, a word that refers to a distinguishing mark, trait, or characteristic of a person, object, or phenomenon. The translative case (-ksi) expresses change of state or designation, so piirteeksi is used when something is described as having become, or being designated as, a feature in a description, analysis, or discussion.

Usage and sense. Piirre can refer to both physical features and abstract attributes. In scientific, literary, or descriptive writing, piirteeksi denotes that a particular aspect is being treated as a defining feature or characteristic of the subject. The form piirteeksi often appears with verbs of becoming or designating, such as tulla, muuttua, asettaa, tai määritellä, to indicate that an attribute is being identified or established as a feature within a broader description.

Relation to related forms. The root piirre carries senses of “feature,” “trait,” or “characteristic,” while piirteeksi marks a shift into the role of that feature within a system of description. The plural piirteet means “features” in general. The word piirteenä is the essive form meaning “as a feature” in a temporary or descriptive sense, contrasting with the translative piirteeksi which emphasizes a change of state or designation.

Etymology and semantics. Piirre derives from the same root as piirtää (to draw) and has developed to mean a drawn or inherent characteristic. In Finnish usage, piirteeksi is a standard way to discuss which aspects are considered features within a text, study, or assessment.

See also. piirre; piirteet; piirteenä; piirteellinen.