dekadlikke

Dekadlikke is the partitive plural form of the Estonian adjective dekadlik, meaning decadent. It is used when describing a plural noun in the partitive case, for example: dekadlikke aegu (decadent times), dekadlikke ideid (decadent ideas), or dekadlikke tundeid (decadent feelings). This form reflects Estonian grammar, where adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in number and case.

The term stems from the broader concept of decadence (décadence) in late 19th‑century European literature and art. In Estonian usage, dekadlikke and related forms describe aesthetics or cultural tendencies that emphasize excess, artificiality, decay, and morbidity, often as a critique of modernization. The concept is closely linked to the Decadence movement and is used in literary criticism, art history, and cultural commentary to classify works, styles, or attitudes as decadent rather than naturalistic or straightforward.

In contemporary Estonian, the word retains a literary or critical tone and is used primarily in discussions of literature, film, fashion, and visual arts. The adjective can carry evaluative nuance; contexts may imply admiration for refined, ironic elegance or a critical stance toward social norms and materialism. Related noun forms include dekadentsus or dekadlikkus, referring more generally to decadence or decadent characteristics.