otsimisel

Otsimisel is a grammatical form in Estonian that denotes the action of searching as a process, equivalent to the phrase “during the search” or “in the course of searching.” It is formed from the verb otsima (to search) through the process noun otsimine (searching) and the adessive case suffix -l, producing otsimisel to express the circumstance of searching.

Etymology and grammar: The base verb otsima means to look for or seek. The noun otsimine refers to the act of searching, and when combined with the adessive suffix -l, it becomes otsimisel, indicating something that occurs while the searching is underway. This construction is common in both written and spoken Estonian and is used to situate actions, conditions, or observations in the ongoing search process.

Usage: Otsimisel is versatile and appears in everyday language, as well as in academic, scientific, and professional writing. It can introduce clauses about methods, data collection, or situational factors that are relevant to the search activity. For example, “Otsimisel kogutakse andmeid” means “During the search, data is collected,” and “Otsimisel tuleb arvesse võtta varjatud tegurid” means “During the search, hidden factors must be considered.”

Related terms: Related forms include otsima (to search) and otsimine (searching). The noun otsing also denotes the act of searching, but otsimisel specifically marks the ongoing process with the adessive case.

See also: Estonian grammar, nominalization, adessive case, searching in research.