väiksemast

Väiksemast is a word form in Estonian grammar. It is the elative singular of the comparative adjective väiksem, which means “smaller.” The form is created from the comparative stem of väike with the elative case ending -st, and it is used when the adjective governs a noun in the elative case (from something, originating from a smaller item or entity).

In use, väiksemast typically appears in phrases indicating origin or movement from a smaller unit. For example, väiksemast linnast means “from the smaller town,” and väiksemast osast can be used to refer to “from the smaller part.” The construction mirrors how other adjectives in Estonian take the elative ending to express movement from or source related meanings, while the noun or pronoun that it modifies is in the elative form.

Väiksemast is part of a small set of inflected forms used to express degree (comparative) together with case endings. The related forms include väiksem (the base comparative degree) and the superlative forms such as kõige väiksem or väikeim (the smallest). The specific elative form ü- for the comparative is not as common as the basic noun phrases, but it appears in descriptive or narrative contexts where a source or movement from a smaller unit is being described.

See also: Estonian grammar, adjectives, comparative and superlative forms, elative case.