varjusid

Varjusid is the plural partitive form of the Estonian noun varjud, meaning shadows. It is used in contexts where the quantity or existence of shadows is indefinite or not fully specified, and when the object of a verb is treated as a part of an unspecified set of shadows. The form is a standard example of the Estonian partitive plural, and it contrasts with varjud (nominative plural) and varju (genitive or singular).

Origin and form: The word is formed from the stem varju- plus the plural partitive suffix -sid, yielding varjusid. This pattern is common in Estonian for nouns that take a plural partitive ending, and it reflects the language’s system of expressing indefiniteness and partiality in objects.

Usage: Varjusid typically appears as the object of verbs of perception or description when the speaker refers to multiple shadows that are not being counted. It can occur in literary, journalistic, and everyday language. The partitive mood of varjusid signals indefiniteness, partial presence, or focus on the shadows as a phenomenon rather than on their exact number.

See also: Estonian grammar, varjud, partitive case.