pühaks

Pühaks is a grammatical form in Estonian. It is the translative singular of the adjective püha, meaning holy or sacred. In Estonian grammar, the translative case expresses a change of state or movement into a new condition, so pühaks is used to indicate becoming holy or entering a state of holiness. The form is typically found in religious, ceremonial, or stylistically elevated language, and is most often seen in constructions that describe a transition or transformation.

The form pühaks is distinct from pühakuks, which is the translative form used with the noun pühak (saint) to mean becoming a saint. Thus, while pühaks conveys a general change toward holiness, pühakuks is used when the focus is specifically on obtaining the status of a saint.

The root püha also appears in other related words and senses. As an adjective, püha describes something holy or sacred; as a noun, püha may refer to a holy day or festival in everyday Estonian usage. The noun pühak means saint, and pühak refers to a holy person within religious contexts.

Overall, pühaks is a specialized translative form used to express a change of state toward holiness in formal or literary Estonian, with related forms existing for more specific meanings such as becoming a saint.