Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *vasta, from Proto-Finno-Permic *wasta (“a place opposite or across”). Related to Estonian vast, Karelian vasta, Livonian vastõ, Livvi vastah, Veps vast, Võro vasta, Votic vassõ, Northern Sami vuostá (“towards, against”), Erzya васта (vasta, “spouse”), вастомс (vastoms, “to meet”), Moksha васта (vasta, “spot, place”) and probably Eastern Mari ваштареш (vaštareš, “against”).

Pronunciation

• IPA(key): /ˈʋɑstɑ-/, [ˈʋɑ̝s̠tɑ̝-]

Prefix

vasta-

1. counter-, anti- (expressing opposition or contrast)
   Antonym: myötä-
2. new-, freshly, just, recently (expressing that something took place recently)
3. return (expressing reciprocity)

Inflection

Like many other Finnish prefixes, vasta- has inflected forms to a limited extent that are used as adverbs.

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