Sõnastikust

Sõnastikust is the elative singular form of the Estonian noun sõnastik, meaning "dictionary." In Estonian, the elative case marks origin or source, so sõnastikust translates literally as "from the dictionary." The base word sõnastik refers to a reference work that lists words, often with definitions, usage notes, and pronunciations; it is formed from sõna (word) with the suffix -stik, which indicates a collection or compendium.

In grammar, sõnastikust is used after verbs or prepositions that require the elative case. For example, Ma otsisin selle sõna tähenduse sõnastikust ("I looked up the meaning of this word in the dictionary"), or Sõnad võeti sõnastikust ("The words were taken from the dictionary").

Note that other forms of sõnastik include genitive sõnastiku ("of the dictionary"), illative sõnastikusse ("into the dictionary"), and various other cases as defined by Estonian morphology. The choice among these forms depends on syntactic function rather than semantics alone.

In lexicography and Estonian language usage, sõnastikust is a common, neutral form for indicating source material. It is distinct from forms that might suggest location inside a dictionary (sõnastikusse) or ownership (sõnastiku).