vähesest

Vähesest is an Estonian adverb formed from the quantifier vähe (little, few) with the elative suffix -st, yielding a sense of origin or source from a small amount. It translates roughly as “from a small amount” or “to a small extent” and is used to express limited quantity or degree.

In terms of grammar, vähesest is the elative form of vähe, used in an adverbial sense. It is most commonly found in formal or literary Estonian texts. In everyday spoken Estonian, the form is relatively rare; speakers typically rely on vähe or other phrases to convey scarcity or limited extent.

Usage notes and context: Vähesest denotes a small or insufficient amount and is often employed to emphasize scarcity, insufficiency, or a restrained degree in descriptive or evaluative statements. Because it carries a more stylized, literary tone, its appearance can signal emphasis or rhetorical nuance in the text.

Relation to other forms: The core meaning aligns with other expressions of quantity such as vähe and vähega, but vähesest specifically signals origin or source from a small quantity through the elative construction. It belongs to a broader set of Estonian expressions that use case endings to convey nuances of quantity and perspective.

See also: vähe, elative case (Estonian), Estonian quantifiers, Estonian grammar.