varasematel

Varasematel is an Estonian inflected form of the adjective varasem, meaning “earlier” or “previous.” It functions as a modifying word that agrees with a following plural noun in a time-related expression. The form is most commonly encountered in phrases that refer to periods in the past, such as varasematel aastatel (“in previous years”) or varasematel aegadel (“in earlier times”). In everyday and formal writing, varasematel helps situate statements in relation to a referenced time point or period.

Morphology and usage are tied to Estonian adjective inflection. Varasematel appears when the adjective is declined to match a plural noun in certain grammatical cases related to time expressions. Because Estonian adjectives reflect the case and number of the nouns they modify, varasematel is not a standalone word with a fixed meaning beyond “earlier”; it is a grammatical form that enables accurate temporal description in sentences.

In practical terms, varasematel is common in historical, journalistic, and academic texts, where speakers compare current situations with what happened before. It enables concise, time-bound comparisons without repeating the noun itself each time. The form is typically used with plural time nouns such as aastatel (years) or aegadel (times), and it can appear in many standard constructions where past periods are being discussed.

See also: Estonian grammar, adjective inflection, temporal expressions in Estonian, varasem (the base form from which varasematel is derived).