eeritud

Eeritud is an Estonian adjective meaning "esteemed" or "honoured." It is used to express respect toward a person or a group, typically in formal or ceremonial contexts. In written or spoken Estonian, eeritud is usually placed before a noun as a premodifier, and it appears in greetings, titles, or formal references. Common usages include phrases such as "eeritud kolleegid" (esteemed colleagues) and "eeritud prouad ja härrad" (esteemed ladies and gentlemen). The term belongs to a family of honorific expressions that convey respect and can be used alongside or as a counterpart to "auväärne" and "austatud." The nuance differs slightly: "auväärne" or "austatud" are widely used in everyday formal language, while "eeritud" can carry a more ceremonial or solemn tone, for example in speeches, opening addresses, or official invitations.

Etymology: The word derives from the noun "eere" meaning "honor" or "repute," with the suffix "-t" forming a participial adjective. Grammatically, "eeritud" behaves as a normal Estonian adjective and agrees in number and case with the noun it modifies (e.g., "eeritud professor" vs. "eeritatud professorid").

See also: austatud, auväärne, lugupeetud, eere.