kellastunut

Kellastunut is a Finnish adjective and the past participle form of the verb kellastua, meaning "turned yellow" or "yellowed." It is used to describe objects that have developed a yellowish hue as a result of aging, exposure to light or air, heat, or chemical reactions.

In everyday use, kellastunut describes things such as paper, books, photographs, textiles, wood finishes, or other materials that have gradually taken on a yellow or amber tint. The term is common in contexts dealing with preservation, archiving, or material aging, where the change in color is a noticeable sign of deterioration or passage of time. While the exact cause of yellowing can vary, it often relates to oxidation, lignin content in paper, or exposure to ultraviolet light.

Grammatically kellastua is an intransitive verb meaning “to yellow,” and kellastunut functions as a participial adjective, usable in attributive or predicative position (e.g., kellastunut paperi, paperi on kellastunut). Related forms include kellastuminen (the process of yellowing) and kellastuneita (yellowed things, in the plural).

Kellastunut is primarily a descriptive term used in Finnish discourse on aging, maintenance, and conservation. It may carry a neutral to slightly negative connotation, depending on context, as yellowing is often associated with wear or reduced condition.