ilmestunud

Ilmestunud is an Estonian past participle and adjective derived from the verb ilmestuma, meaning to appear, emerge, or become visible and evident. It is used to describe something that has become apparent or revealed, often as a result of investigation, evidence, or events.

Grammatically, ilmestunud can function as an adjective modifying a noun, as in illuminated or emerged truths, such as tõde that has appeared: ilmestunud tõde. It can also be part of a compound tense with the auxiliary olema to indicate a completed action in the past or present perfect: tõendid on ilmestunud (the evidence has emerged). In many contexts, it conveys a sense of gradual unveiling rather than a sudden discovery.

In usage, ilmestunud tends to appear in formal or literary registers and in journalism or academic prose. In everyday language, other words such as paljastunud or ilmselgeks muutunud might be more common to express similar ideas of revelation or clarity.

Etymology traces the word to the root related to visibility and appearance in Estonian, encapsulating the notion of something coming into view or becoming understood.

See also: ilmestuma, paljastuma, tõde (truth).