Usaldanud

Usaldanud is an Estonian word formed as the past active participle of the verb usaldama, meaning to entrust or rely on. It roughly translates to "having entrusted" in English and is used to describe an action performed by the subject in the past, or to function as an adjective describing a state that resulted from that action.

In practice, usaldanud appears in perfect-tense constructions such as ma olen usaldanud (I have entrusted) and ta on usaldanud oma saladuse sõbrale (he has entrusted his secret to a friend). As a participle, it can modify a noun, though in everyday Estonian speakers often prefer rephrasing with a relative clause (inimene, kes on usaldanud) rather than using usaldanud attributively. It is more common in formal, legal, or literary contexts.

Related terms include usaldus (trust or confidence), usaldusväärne (trustworthy), and usaldama (to entrust). The word carries connotations of responsibility, confidence, and the transfer of ownership, information, or duties from one party to another. Usage spans contexts such as handling confidential information, delegating tasks, or formal arrangements where assets or responsibilities are entrusted to someone else. The suffix -nud/-nud marks the dash between the verb and its participle form, producing the neutral, descriptive sense typical for Estonian participles.