tähest

Tähest is a term that has no single, widely recognized definition in standard reference works. In linguistic discussions, speculative fiction, and other informal contexts, it has occasionally appeared as a coined word to denote a writing system, a coded script, or a symbolic inventory used within a particular analysis or imagined world. Because it is not an established term, its meaning tends to vary by author and context.

In some uses, tähest is described as an alphabet-like system consisting of a set of glyphs that map to sounds or meanings, similar to how alphabets, syllabaries, or logographic scripts function. In other instances, it is employed more broadly to denote a catalog or inventory of symbols, whose specific phonetic or semantic values are defined by the source material rather than by a universal standard. The lack of formal definition means that any concrete explanation should be taken from the particular work in which the term appears.

Etymology and orthography for tähest remain unclear. The word does not appear in major dictionaries, and it may be a neologism, a shortened form arising from related terms in Estonian, Finnish, or other languages, or simply a fictional coinage. Caution is warranted against assuming a fixed meaning outside of its originating source.

Related terms include tähe and tähestik. The latter is the correct Estonian word for the alphabet, while tähe can function as a root related to star or letter in certain forms.