üksikli

Üksikli is an Estonian word that appears primarily as an archaic or literary form of the adjective meaning "single" or "solitary." In contemporary standard Estonian, the common form is usually "üksik." Üksikli is most often encountered in older literature, poetry, or dialectal contexts, and it is not part of everyday modern usage.

Etymology and form: the word is derived from the numeral "üks" (one) with the derivational suffix "-ikli," a pattern in Estonian for forming adjectives that indicate a state or quality. As a reduced or stylistic variant, üksikli functions like other adjectives and would modify a noun when used, though its appearance is rare today.

Usage and context: when it does occur, üksikli is typically employed for emphasis or stylistic effect, contributing a sense of heightened solitude or completeness of being solitary. Because it is uncommon in modern prose, writers often substitute the standard form "üksik" or use alternative expressions to convey solitude or singularity.

See also: Estonian language, Estonian morphology, stylistic registers in Estonian literature.