Suletudsilmusega

Suletudsilmusega is a phrase in Estonian that literally means with closed eyes. It is not a standard dictionary form; the ordinary expression is suletud silmadega (with closed eyes). The compound suletudsilmusega may appear in poetic or experimental contexts as an adverbial or descriptive construction to convey that someone’s eyes are closed, often suggesting sleep, meditation, or trance. The form is plausible within Estonian morphology, but it is far less common in everyday speech and literature than the conventional suletud silmadega.

Etymology and form: the expression combines the adjective suletud (closed) with silm (eye) and uses a stylistic instrumental-like suffix -usega. This contrasts with the more typical suletud silmadega, where the plural noun silmad is in the genetive form silmade and paired with -ga to indicate manner. The exact use of suletudsilmusega is more frequent in poetic or experimental writing and should be considered a stylistic variant rather than standard prose.

Usage: suletudsilmusega can serve to set mood, convey a character’s inward focus, or depict a state of rest or trance. It is often found in poetry, lyrical writing, and sometimes stage directions or translations where a compact, single-term descriptor is desired. Since it is not widely adopted in normal prose, writers usually prefer suletud silmadega for clarity.

See also: suletud silmad, silmadega, silm.

Note: As a relatively uncommon form, suletudsilmusega should be used sparingly and with awareness of potential unfamiliarity to readers of standard Estonian.