ikuiseksi

ikuiseksi is a Finnish word used as a translative form of the abstract noun ikuisuus, meaning eternity or perpetuity. In Finnish grammar the translative case (ending with -ksi) expresses a change of state or becoming into something. The standard translative form of ikuisuus is ikuisuudeksi, which is the form most often found in contemporary language. Ikuiseksi can appear as a stylistic or older variant in some texts, or in certain fixed expressions, but it is not the common everyday form.

Etymology and form: ikuisuus derives from ikuinen, meaning eternal, with the abstract-noun suffix -uus. The translative suffix -ksi is added to form ikuisuudeksi in standard usage. Words with the same concept of entering an eternal state may thus be built with ikuisuudeksi rather than ikuiseksi in formal writing. The appearance of ikuiseksi is typically limited to poetic, archaic, or dialect-influenced contexts and is less frequent in modern prose.

Usage and context: ikuisuudeksi is used when describing a change of state into eternity or perpetuity, often in literary, philosophical, or religious language. Because ikuisuudeksi is the normative translative form, ikuiseksi is usually reserved for stylistic variation or quoted older text. The word contrasts with ikuisesti (eternally) as an adverb and with ikuisuus (eternity) as a noun.

See also: ikuisuus, ikuinen, ikuisesti, translative case in Finnish.

Note: Finnish grammar features multiple case forms; translative forms may vary slightly in spelling depending on the base word and historical usage.