Varjostatte

Varjostatte is the second-person plural present indicative form of the Finnish verb varjostaa, meaning to shade, cast a shadow over, or obscure. The form is used when addressing multiple people who are performing the action of creating shade or otherwise blocking light, whether in a physical sense (blocking light to produce a shadow) or in a figurative sense (overshadowing or dimming something, such as visibility or reputation).

Etymology and grammar: Varjostaa derives from varjo, meaning shadow, with the common Finnish verb suffix -staa. Varjostaa is a regular -taa/-staa verb, so its present tense forms are: minä varjostan, sinä varjostat, hän varjostaa, me varjostamme, te varjostatte, he varjostavat. The form varjostatte specifically marks the second-person plural subject. The negative form is en varjosta, et varjosta, hän ei varjosta, etc.

Usage notes: In physical contexts, varjostatte can describe creating a shadow by placing an object to block light. In metaphorical usage, it can express that someone or something is being overshadowed or obscured, such as a person’s achievements or a topic in discussion. Related nouns include varjo (shadow) and varjostus or varjostaminen, which refer to shading or shading techniques in art, photography, and design.

See also: varjo, varjostus, varjostaminen, varjostuspiirteet.