-est

Table of contents

1 English 1.1 Suffix 1.1.1 Usage notes 1.2 See also 1.2.1 Translations

English

Suffix

-est

1. Used to form the superlative of some adjectives and a few adverbs.

   longest, biggest, fastest

2. Used to form the archaic second-person singular present tense of verbs.

   goest, makest

Usage notes

1. Final y becomes i when this suffix is added (easy, easiest).
2. This suffix may be used to form the superlative of:

   • adjectives and adverbs that have one syllable(hot, hottest; fast, fastest);
   • some, but not all, adjectives that have two syllables (funny, funniest).

3. Most longer adjectives, and adjectives that are participles, form the superlative using most (enormous, most enormous; burnt, most burnt; freezing, most freezing).
4. If in doubt, use most instead (thirsty may become thirstiest but most thirsty would also be acceptable).

See also

• -er
• -eth

Translations

• French: le plus (put before the verb), eg. biggest = le plus grand
• German: -ste

  -ast (1), mest (before the adjective or adverb) (1)