-est
See also: est, Est, EST, êst, ēst, est., and Est.
English
Pronunciation
- (UK, US) enPR: ĭst, IPA(key): /ɪst/
Audio (RP) (file) - (General Australian) enPR: əst, IPA(key): /əst/
- Rhymes: -ɪst, -əst
Etymology 1
From Middle English -est, from Old English -st, -est, from Proto-Germanic *-istaz, *-ōstaz, related to comparative -er. Cognate of Dutch -st, German -(e)st, Danish -(e)st, Swedish -(a)st.
Suffix
-est
- Used to form the superlative of adjectives and adverbs.
- longest, biggest, fastest
Usage notes
- See -er for notes on the usage of this suffix to form superlatives.
- Occasionally, the -est suffix is added to a verbal adjective as a substitute for most. An example is winningest.
Coordinate terms
- -er
Related terms
- -most
Translations
superlative of adjectives and adverbs
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Etymology 2
From Middle English -est, -st, from Old English -est, -ast, -st, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *-zi, from Proto-Indo-European *-si. The -t was by transfer from inverted order where thou followed the verb, which also occurred in most dialects of Middle Dutch and Middle High German (compare modern German -st).
Suffix
-est
- (archaic, dialectal) Used to form the second-person singular present tense and past tense of verbs. (if thou is the subject; not used with you)
- goest, makest, wentest, madest
Alternative forms
- -st
Translations
second-person singular present tense of verbs
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See also
- -eth
- thou
Anagrams
- ETS, ETs, SET, STE, Set, StE, Ste, Ste., TEs, TSE, Tse, set, seṭ, tse
Hungarian
Etymology
-es (adjective-forming suffix) + -t (adverbial suffix)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ɛʃt]
Suffix
-est
- (adverbial suffix) Forms an adverb.
Usage notes
- Harmonic variants:
- -st
- -est
- öröm (“joy”) → örömest (“with joy”)
Derived terms
Hungarian adverbs suffixed with -est
Middle English
Alternative forms
- -ist
Suffix
-est
- Used to form the second-person singular present indicative of verbs.
Old English
Alternative forms
- -ost, -ust
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *-ustaz, *-istaz.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /est/
Suffix
-est
- suffix forming feminine nouns, originally from verbs
- eornost ― earnest
- þēnest ― service
- ofost ― haste
- orrest ― battle, combat
Declension
Declension of -est (strong ō-stem)
Case | Singular | Plural |
---|---|---|
nominative | -est | -esta, -este |
accusative | -este | -esta, -este |
genitive | -este | -esta |
dative | -este | -estum |
Welsh
Alternative forms
- -aist
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɛsd/, [ɛst]
Suffix
-est
- (colloquial) verb suffix for the second-person singular preterite
Derived terms
Category Welsh terms suffixed with -est not found