Mõõdukamast

Mõõdukamast is an Estonian verb form that denotes the act of becoming more moderate or temperate. It is not a standard, frequently used form in contemporary Estonian and is mostly encountered in historical texts and some dialects. The term is derived from the adjective mõõdukas (moderate, temperate) and reflects a gradation toward greater moderation.

In usage, mõõdukamast can function as an infinitive-like form to express the process of increasing moderation. Because it is rarely used today, it tends to appear mainly in philological discussions, old literature, or lexicographic entries rather than in everyday speech. When modern speakers want to convey a similar idea, they typically opt for phrases such as tegutsema mõistlikult (to act sensibly) or olema mõistlik ja mõõdukas, or they use the adverb mõõdukalt (moderately).

Grammatical notes indicate that mõõdukamast represents a historic or dialectal variant rather than a standard modern conjugation. Its appearance in texts can help linguists trace older patterns of degree expression within Estonian. In practical terms, most contemporary writers would avoid this form in favor of clearer constructions that express moderation without relying on less common inflectional forms.

Example: Ta püüdis mõõdukamast tegutseda, mitte kiirustada. This sentence illustrates the intended sense of acting with greater moderation, a nuance typically conveyed through more common expressions in modern Estonian.