varhaisimmat

Varhaisimmat is a Finnish term meaning "the earliest" or "the earliest ones." It is the plural nominative form of the adjective varhaisin and is used to refer to items, moments, or periods that occupy the beginning of a sequence. In sentences, varhaisimmat typically precede a plural noun, for example varhaisimmat käsikirjoitukset (the earliest manuscripts), varhaisimmat löydöt (the earliest finds), or varhaisimmat muistomerkit (the earliest monuments).

Usage and contexts

The term is common in academic writing, archaeology, history, linguistics, and museum labeling. It designates items believed to belong to the earliest phase of a dataset, collection, or historical sequence. Varhaisimmat is often contrasted with later items, such as the myöhäisimmat (the latest) or keskivaiheimmat (the middle). It also appears in catalogues, databases, and narrative accounts as a chronological marker.

Etymology and form

Varhaisimmat derives from the Finnish adjective varhaisin/varhainen for “early.” The plural form varhaisimmat agrees with a plural noun and is used to refer to the earliest instances within a group. The construction reflects a straightforward way Finnish expresses temporal order through adjectives.

Notes

Varhaisimmat is not a proper noun and does not denote a specific organization or title on its own; rather, it functions as a descriptive label applied to items at the beginning of a sequence in Finnish discourse.