-est

I. adjective suffix or adverb suffix Etymology: Middle English, from Old English -st, -est, -ost; akin to Old High German -isto (adjective superlative suffix), Greek -istos — used to form the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs of one syllable <

fattest

> <

latest

>, of some adjectives and adverbs of two syllables <

luckiest

> <

oftenest

>, and less often of longer ones <

beggarliest

> II. verb suffix or -st Etymology: Middle English, from Old English -est, -ast, -st; akin to Old High German -ist, -ōst, -ēst, 2d singular ending — used to form the archaic second person singular of English verbs (with thou) <

didst

> <

canst

>