Selite

Selite is a Finnish noun meaning an explanatory note, gloss, or annotation. It is used especially in dictionaries, glossaries, and scholarly writing to clarify a term and to provide supplementary information such as sense distinctions, pronunciation, etymology, or usage notes. In lexicography, a selite accompanies a headword and helps readers understand its meaning across contexts or languages.

The form derives from the verb selittää, to explain, with the nominal suffix -te, producing a label for an explanatory remark rather than a full definition. In practice, a selite may appear as a short parenthetical note, a brief translation, or a cross-reference to related entries. It is distinct from a full definition (selitys) and from a general note (huomautus or muistutus) but can interact with them to illuminate tricky points.

In publishing and language resources, selite usage helps manage multilingual or specialized vocabulary, clarifying terms that could be ambiguous or regionally variant. Related terms include selitys (explanation), selostus (summary or report), and huomautus (note).

See also: glossary; annotation; footnote; lexicography.