arvustama

Arvustama is an Estonian verb meaning to evaluate, assess, review, or critique something. The sense conveyed is forming an opinion about the quality, value, or significance of a subject after examination or analysis. The verb is used in contexts where an assessment is produced, such as judging a manuscript, evaluating a film or book, or appraising a product or performance.

In practice, arvustama appears in academic, literary, and professional settings. Editors arvustavad submitted manuscripts; reviewers arvustavad research proposals; critics arvustavad artistic works. The action tends to emphasize a considered judgement that notes strengths, weaknesses, and possible improvements. The noun form arvustus, meaning a review or critique, is closely related and often describes the product of arvustama.

Arvustama is a transitive verb and commonly takes a direct object that denotes what is being evaluated. The term carries a evaluative or critical nuance, distinguishing it from more neutral terms for estimation. It can describe both formal evaluations, such as peer reviews, and more informal commentary, such as a person’s assessment of a film or article.

See also: arvustus; hindama; kriitika. These related terms cover the written critique, the act of valuing or assessing, and the broader domain of critical evaluation in Estonian usage.