inkrementaalset

Inkrementaalset is the partitive singular form of the Estonian adjective inkrementaalne, meaning incremental. It is used to describe a noun in the partitive case and conveys that something is performed in small steps or added gradually rather than all at once.

In Estonian grammar, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify. When the noun is in the partitive case, the attributive adjective takes the -set ending, as in inkrementaalset arengut, which can be translated as an incremental development. The base form inkrementaalne is used before nouns in the nominative singular.

The term is common in technical and academic contexts, including software development, data processing, project management, and research, where processes are described as progressing in increments. The phrase inkrementaalse arenguga or inkrementaalne lähenemine is used to express a stepwise or additive approach. The adverb form inkrementaalselt exists to describe actions done in an incremental manner.

Etymology: inkrementaalne is a direct borrowing from the English word incremental, adapted to Estonian morphology. The related noun inkrement denotes an increment, a discrete step or addition.

See also: inkrementaalne, inkrementaalselt.

Overall, inkrementaalset functions as a grammatical form that enables precise description of incremental, stepwise characteristics in Estonian text.