väikesest

Väikesest is the elative singular form of the Estonian adjective väike, meaning small or little. It is used when the noun it modifies is in the elative case, which can express movement from or source, among other functions. For example, väikesest majast means “from the small house,” and väikesest linnast means “from the small town.” The elative singular form is built by adding the suffix -st to the base väike.

In Estonian, adjectives agree with the noun they modify in case and number. Therefore, when the noun is in the elative plural, the adjective changes to väikestest, making phrases such as väikestest majadest (from the small houses). This pattern applies to other nouns as well, reflecting standard adjective declension in Estonian.

Usage notes include that väikesest typically appears in descriptive phrases involving size or extent, often in literary or formal contexts. It is commonly found in spatial expressions, sources or origins, and comparative constructions where size is a relevant attribute. In everyday speech, the base form väike is more common, with väikesest appearing primarily in contexts requiring the elative case.

Overall, väikesest functions as the elative singular form of a straightforward comparative adjective, serving to specify origin or source from something small within Estonian grammar.