otsijad

Otsijad is an Estonian noun meaning "seekers" or "searchers." It is the plural form of otsija, a person who searches for something, gathers information, or pursues a goal. The term is neutral and widely used in everyday language as well as in journalism, academia, and fiction to describe people engaged in systematic search or pursuit, such as investigators, researchers, missing-person search teams, or hobbyists looking for specific items.

Etymology and form: Otsija is formed from the verb otsima "to search" with the agent suffix -ja, yielding the sense "one who searches." The plural nominative is otsijad. Like other -ja nouns in Estonian, otsija/otsijad has corresponding inflected forms in other cases.

Usage notes: The word can refer to individuals or groups and does not imply a particular method or success; it denotes the act of seeking. In some contexts, it may be used to describe a rhetorical or philosophical pursuit of truth rather than a physical search.

Examples: Otsijad kogusid tõendeid ja esitasid järeldused. Õpilased on otsijad, kelle eesmärk on mõista probleemi sügavuti.

See also: otsima, otsing, otsija.