ettekirjutus

Ettekirjutus is a noun in Estonian that refers to a short prefatory note or instruction attached to a document or manuscript, typically placed before the main text. The word combines ette- meaning "before" with kirjutus meaning "writing." In practice, ettekirjutus denotes ancillary writing that explains the origin, purpose, or handling of the text rather than its content.

Usage and contexts: The term occurs primarily in archival, bibliographic, or administrative settings. It may appear in inventories, file descriptions, or publishers' notes, where a brief annotation provides metadata (date, author, provenance) or operational instructions for readers or handlers. In literary publishing, the function is similar to a foreword or preface, but ettekirjutus tends to be shorter and more utilitarian, lacking the author's narrative voice.

Frequency and status: Ettekirjutus is relatively rare in contemporary Estonian outside specialized discourse; it is more often encountered in historical documents, catalogues, or dictionaries. The concept reflects practices of adding prefaces or notes before the main text to aid interpretation, provenance, or use of the material.

See also: preface, foreword, annotation, note.