Toetuslikku

Toetuslikku is an Estonian inflected form of the adjective toetuslik, which means “supportive” or “based on support.” The base adjective is formed from the noun toetus (support) with the suffix -lik, creating a meaning related to support or backing. The form toetuslikku appears when the adjective modifies a noun that appears in a non-nominative grammatical slot, such as oblique cases, depending on sentence structure.

In use, toetuslikku is primarily encountered in written Estonian, especially in linguistic descriptions, grammar references, or academic writing. It is not a common everyday spoken form but serves a grammatical function in illustrating how adjectives inflect to agree with nouns across different cases and numbers.

Etymology and formation are straightforward: toetus (support) + -lik (a suffix turning a noun into an adjective meaning “having the quality of”). The resulting adjective is then declined to fit the case and number requirements of the noun it describes, which can produce forms like toetuslikku in certain contextual slots.

Examples of its application include phrases such as toetuslikku konteksti and toetuslikku raamistikku, which translate roughly to “in a supportive context” and “within a supportive framework,” respectively. These usages show how the form conveys a sense of supportiveness within a described setting or system.

See also: Estonian grammar, Estonian adjectives, suffix -lik, noun-to-adjective derivation, case inflection in Estonian.