Selgitas

Selgitas is a finite verb form in the Estonian language. It is the past tense, third person singular of the verb selgitama, which means to explain or to clarify. The form is used in narrative or reported speech to indicate that someone explained something in the past. The related noun selgitus means an explanation, and the verb selgitama denotes the act of explaining.

Etymology and related forms: The verb selgitama is built from the root selge, meaning clear, and expresses the idea of making something clear or intelligible. In addition to selgitas, related forms include selgitab (he/she explains) and selgitasid (you explained, plural in some contexts). The noun selgitus is commonly used to refer to an explanation.

Usage notes: Selgitas is used when the subject is a singular third person entity. It marks completed past action and is typical in narrative recounting or reporting what someone explained. For plural subjects, the corresponding form would be selgitasid or selgitasid depending on the person and number. Common objects of explanation include topics, situations, or decisions, e.g., selgitas olukorra rahulikult or selgitas uut teemat.

Examples: Ta selgitas olukorra rahulikult. (He explained the situation calmly.) Õpetaja selgitas uut teemat. (The teacher explained the new topic.)

In summary, selgitas is a standard past-tense form used to report that someone explained something in Estonian, with clear connections to the related noun selgitus and the verb selgitama.