varhaisempi

Varhaisempi is a Finnish adjective meaning "earlier" or "more early." It is the comparative form of varhainen and is used to compare two times, events, versions, or stages. In ordinary usage, it agrees with the noun it modifies (for example, varhaisempi aikataulu).

Usage and nuance: Varhaisempi expresses relative timing rather than mere precedence. It can describe schedules, versions of software, historical periods, or developmental stages. Compared to the synonym aiempi, varhaisempi often highlights an earlier point in a sequence or earlier phase, especially in technical or formal contexts.

Examples: "Tämä aikataulu on varhaisempi kuin toinen" (This schedule is earlier than the other). "Tämä varhaisempi versio ohjelmasta korjaa virheen" (This earlier version of the program fixes a bug). "Varhaisemmat tutkimukset" (earlier studies).

Relationship and derivation: The form varhaisempi is built from varhainen with the comparative suffix -mpi; the superlative is varhaisin. The root varhainen belongs to a family of Finnish words meaning early; the prefix varhais- appears in compounds such as varhaiskasvatus ("early childhood education"). Varhaisempi is widely used in everyday language as well as scholarly writing to indicate a previous time or earlier stage.