sekundaarsete

Sekundaarsete is an Estonian grammatical form used to express the concept of “secondary” in the genitive plural. It is the genitive plural form of the adjective sekundaarne, which means secondary or auxiliary. In Estonian, adjectives decline for number and case, so sekundaarne takes different endings to agree with the noun it modifies. When used with a plural noun in genitive, the form sekundaarsete appears, producing phrases such as sekundaarsete struktuuride or sekundaarsete omaduste.

Usage and meaning

Sekundaarsete is typically found in academic, scientific, and technical texts where contrast with primary or core elements is discussed. It describes secondary aspects, features, structures, properties, or classifications that are subsidiary to a main or primary set. For example, sekundaarsete struktuuride uurimine refers to the study of secondary structures, while sekundaarsete omaduste hinnang means an assessment of secondary properties. The term is almost always part of a larger noun phrase in genitive construction.

Grammar notes

As with other Estonian adjectives, sekundaarne inflects for number and case. The genitive plural form, sekundaarsete, is commonly used when the noun it modifies is in genitive plural, which is typical in phrases describing multiple secondary items or categories.

Etymology

Sekundaarne stems from Latin secundarius through German sekundaer and other European linguistic influences. In Estonian, it has been integrated as a technical and educational term meaning “secondary” or “subordinate.”

See also

Primary terms in Estonian include peamine and esmane, used for the opposite of secondary.