külmemaks

Külmemaks is a term that appears in Estonian linguistic and descriptive contexts rather than as a widely recognized dictionary entry. It is formed from the adjective külm (cold) and a derivational suffix used in Estonian to express a change of state or a move toward a more extreme degree. In standard usage, külmemaks is not treated as an independent verb or noun; rather, it functions within periphrastic constructions to indicate becoming colder.

Usage and meaning: In contemporary Estonian, to convey that something is getting colder, speakers typically use a verb phrase such as muutuma külmemaks or the finite form muutub külmemaks (The weather is becoming colder). For example, Ilm muutub külmemaks öö jooksul (The weather becomes colder over the night). In this sense, külmemaks acts as a predicative complement describing the degree of coldness in a process rather than as a stand-alone lexical item.

Grammar and register: The form is mainly found in descriptive or didactic contexts that illustrate how Estonian forms increasing degrees of a quality. It is not a common everyday word and may be encountered primarily in grammars, language-learning materials, or stylistic writing to demonstrate the construction of comparative or degree-related forms.

See also: Estonian language; adjectives and degree; verb+inflection constructions; meteorological description.

Notes: Due to limited standard usage, külmemaks should be understood as a constructive form rather than a widely used lemma. In everyday writing, rephrasing with muutuma külmemaks or other expressions is generally preferred.