loendustele

loendustele is a term that appears in some older or regional dialects of Estonian. It is the allative plural form of the word "loendus," which translates to "census" or "enumeration" in English. Therefore, "loendustele" specifically means "to the censuses" or "onto the enumerations."

In its primary meaning, "loendus" refers to the systematic counting and recording of a population, typically within a specific geographical area and at a defined time. This can include demographic information such as age, sex, occupation, and household composition. Historically, censuses have been conducted for various purposes, including taxation, military conscription, and understanding population trends. The plural form "loendused" refers to multiple instances of such counting exercises.

The allative case in Estonian, indicated by the "-le" ending, signifies movement towards, onto, or for a particular purpose. Thus, "loendustele" would describe the act of directing attention or resources towards these census activities. For example, one might say that the government allocates funds "loendustele" (to the censuses) or that the public is called upon to participate "loendustele" (in the censuses). The specific context in which this form is used would clarify the exact nuance of its meaning. It is not a commonly encountered term in modern standard Estonian, which often prefers simpler prepositions or case forms for similar expressions.