armastatud

Armastatud is an Estonian word meaning "beloved" or "loved." It is the past passive participle of the verb armastama, which means to love. The form is built from the verb stem armast- with the suffix -atud, resulting in an adjective that describes something that has been loved or is cherished by someone.

As a grammatical form, armastatud can function both attributively and predicatively. It can modify a noun: armastatud inimene (a beloved person), armastatud raamat (a beloved book). It can also appear as a predicative complement: Ta on armastatud (He/She is loved). The sense emphasizes an external affection rather than an intrinsic quality. In contrast, related forms include armastus (love) and armastav (loving, the active participle). The word is more common in literary, formal, or ceremonial language; everyday speech often uses synonyms like kallis or lemmik.

Etymologically, armastatud derives from armastama (to love) with the past passive participle suffix -atud, reflecting a standard pattern for forming passive adjectives in Estonian. The term can appear in titles or poetic contexts to evoke tenderness or affection, and it may describe people, relationships, or affectionately regarded objects or works.

See also: armastus, armastama, armastav, lemmik.