ebavõrdset

Ebavõrdset is the partitive singular form of the Estonian adjective ebavõrdne, meaning not equal or unequal. It is used when the adjective modifies a noun in the partitive case, for example in phrases such as ebavõrdset kohtlemist (unequal treatment) or ebavõrdset võrdlust (an unequal comparison). The form reflects Estonian’s rich case and number system, with ebavõrdne serving as the base adjective.

Etymology and grammar: ebavõrdne is built from the prefix e- meaning not and võrdne meaning equal, together denoting inequality. Ebavõrdset is the grammatical form appropriate for use with nouns in the partitive case. Like other Estonian adjectives, ebavõrdne has several inflected forms to agree with genderless nouns across cases and numbers; ebavõrdsus would be a related noun meaning inequality, and other case forms are used in different syntactic contexts.

Usage: The word appears in academic, political, and journalistic language when describing disparities, biases, or unfairness. It emphasizes the qualitative nature of inequality rather than merely listing numbers. Placed before a noun in the partitive, it highlights an indefiniteness or partiality of the noun’s quality, as in ebavõrdsetes tingimustes (in unequal conditions) or ebavõrdset võrdlust (an unequal comparison).

See also: ebavõrdne, ebavõrdsus, võrdsus.

Note: Ebavõrdset is a functional grammatical form rather than a standalone lexical item; its meaning derives from the base adjective ebavõrdne and its use with partitive nouns.