sanakirjana

Sanakirjana is a Finnish linguistic term formed from the noun sanakirja (dictionary) plus the essive suffix -na, yielding the meaning "as a dictionary" or "in the capacity of a dictionary." In Finnish grammar, the essive case expresses a temporary state or role, so sanakirjana translates to "as a dictionary" in English.

Usage of sanakirjana is primarily found in linguistic discussions, grammar explanations, and texts illustrating Finnish case endings. It is not a separate lexical item with a distinct meaning, but a grammatical form that indicates function. It can occur in sentences to describe the manner or role of a source, for example: "Käytä tätä luetteloa sanakirjana" (Use this list as a dictionary).

Etymology and structure: sanakirja provides the base noun "dictionary"; the suffix -na marks the essive case. The word demonstrates how Finnish uses case endings to convey semantic roles without prepositions.

See also: Finnish language, Finnish grammar, essive case, sanakirja.