fossiiliks

Fossiiliks is the translative form of the Estonian noun fossiil, meaning fossil. In Estonian grammar, the translative case marks a change into a new state or role, so fossiiliks expresses “into a fossil” or “as a fossil.” It is a grammatical form rather than a distinct lexical item.

Usage and examples: Fossiiliks is used with verbs of change or state, such as saama (to become) or muutuma (to transform). Examples include ta sai fossiiliks (he became a fossil) and ta muutus fossiiliks (he turned into a fossil). The form is created by adding the translative suffix -iks to the stem fossiil-.

Etymology: The word fossiil is borrowed from Latin fossilis through other European languages, and the Estonian translative suffix -iks is used to express becoming or entering a new state. The combination fossiil- plus -iks yields fossiiliks, the standard translative form.

Usage context: In general language, fossiiliks can appear in discussions of paleontology or archaeology to describe something taking on the form or identity of a fossil. It can also be used metaphorically to describe objects or practices that have become outdated or fossilized, in a figurative sense.

See also: fossiil, fossilization (fossiiliseerumine), Estonian grammar and translative case.