suuruuden

Suuruuden is the genitive singular form of the Finnish noun suuruus, meaning greatness, grandeur, or magnitude. The concept covers both physical size and figurative importance or sublimity, and it is used to indicate that something possesses or embodies a high degree of significance, majesty, or impact.

Etymology and form: suuruus is formed from the root suur- with a nominalizing suffix -uus; the genitive singular ends as suuruuden. The word belongs to standard Finnish and is commonly found in literary, philosophical, and rhetorical contexts. The plural form is suuruudet, and the genitive plural is suuruuksien, though everyday usage often focuses on the singular form for possessive constructions.

Usage and nuance: suuruuden is typically employed to attribute greatness to a person, institution, event, or idea, as in phrases describing the greatness of a state, civilization, or achievement. In prose and poetry, the term can convey majesty, awe, or the sublime, and it is sometimes used in political rhetoric to evoke historical significance or national pride. The overall connotation depends on the surrounding wording, ranging from neutral description to laudatory emphasis or critical distance.

Related terms: suuruus (the abstract quality of greatness), mahtavuus (grandeur or magnitude), and other compounds expressing scale or importance. The concept also intersects with discussions of grandeur in aesthetics and philosophy, where it is connected to notions of sublimity and impressive scale.

See also: suuruus, mahtavuus, suurus.