otsustus

Otsustus is an Estonian noun meaning a decision or determination. It is used in legal, administrative, and everyday language to refer to a formal conclusion reached by a person or authority, as well as to the act or process of deciding.

Etymology and form: Otsustus is derived from the verb otsustada, meaning to decide, with the abstract noun suffix -ustus. Related terms include otsus, which also means decision or ruling. In legal contexts, compounds such as kohtuotsus (court decision) are common, illustrating how otsustus functions within established legal vocabulary.

Usage and nuance: In formal texts, otsustus often emphasizes the result produced by the decision-making process or the formal determination itself. It can also denote the act of deciding in a procedural sense, such as the steps leading to a conclusion. In everyday language, otsustus may refer to a personal decision or a decision made by an individual, though otsus remains a more general term for a specific decision.

Contexts: The word appears in judicial and administrative documents, legislation, and official correspondence. It is frequently encountered in phrases describing decision-making processes, such as "otsustamise protsess" (decision-making process) or "otsuse tegemine" (making a decision). The exact connotation is influenced by context, with otsustus tending toward formality or formational emphasis, while otsus focuses on the outcome.

See also: otsustada; otsustamine; kohtuotsus.