väisty

Väisty is a Finnish verb form serving as the imperative singular of väistyä, meaning to move aside or yield. The word is used to tell someone to clear a path or to withdraw from a position in order to let others pass or take over. Väistyä is intransitive and can refer to physical movement as well as figurative withdrawal from a role or situation.

Etymology and related forms: Väisty comes from the root väist-, associated with avoiding or moving away. Related words include väistö (the act or process of moving aside or avoiding) and the verb väistää (to avoid, to dodge) which is transitive and has a broader scope of use. The imperative form väisty is most common in direct commands; plural or polite forms appear as väistykää.

Usage: Väisty is more common in formal, old-fashioned, or directive contexts. It appears in directions or stage directions and can appear in historical texts. In contemporary everyday Finnish, speakers often use alternatives such as siirry (move aside) or anna tilaa (give way), or more explicit phrases like väistä pois.

Examples: Väisty tieltä, kulkija. (Move aside, path is clear.) Hän väistyi kuninkaallisen edestä. (He withdrew from before the royalty.)

Notes: The imperative väisty is somewhat archaic or formal in modern everyday speech. It is a clear, direct command and should be used in contexts where a terse instruction is appropriate.

See also: väistyä, väistää, väistö.