seaduslikus

Seaduslikus is an Estonian grammatical form that conveys the sense of “in a legal sense” or “within the law.” It is the inessive singular form of the adjective seaduslik, meaning legal or lawful. As a form of an adjective, seaduslikus appears in prepositional phrases to indicate a relation to law, rather than as a stand-alone noun. The noun form seaduslikkus means legality or lawfulness, and its inflected forms are used when talking about the state or quality of being legal.

Usage and meaning: In legal or formal writing, seaduslikus is used in contexts such as within the framework of the law or in the sense of legality. The related adverbial form is seaduslikult, which means legally or lawfully. The distinction between seaduslikus and the noun seaduslikkus is primarily grammatical; seaduslikus describes location in relation to law, while seaduslikkus denotes the abstract quality of legality.

Common phrases: Examples include seaduslikus mõttes (in the legal sense), seaduslikus raamides (within the legal framework), and seaduslikus korras (in a lawful/in proper legal manner). These forms are typical in discussions of compliance, regulatory processes, or legal interpretation.

Examples: Ta tegutses seaduslikus raamides. (He acted within the legal framework.) Seaduslikus mõttes on tehingu kehtivus kinnitatud. (In the legal sense, the transaction’s validity is confirmed.)

Origin and relation: The form derives from the base adjective seaduslik, itself formed from seadus (law) plus the adjectival suffix -lik. The related noun seaduslikkus is frequently used in analyses of legality, rights, and legal status.

See also: Law in Estonian, Estonian grammar, legal terminology.