"-est" meaning in Middle English

See -est in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Suffix

IPA: /-əst/ Forms: Midland [Southern, West], -ist [alternative], -yst [alternative], -st [alternative, Late-Middle-English, especially], -ost [alternative], -ust [alternative]
Etymology: In the present, inherited from Old English -ast (class 2 weak second-person singular), from Proto-West Germanic *-ōs with paragogic -t added from when þū follows (compare Northern Middle English -es), from Proto-Germanic *-ōsi, from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yési. In the past, inherited from Old English -est, from Proto-West Germanic *-ēs (with paragogic -t added as above), from Proto-Germanic *-ēz (with -s by analogy with present forms), from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁si (in *dʰédʰeh₁si, form of *dʰédʰeh₁ti); this suffix is initially limited to weak verbs, but is extended to strong verbs over the course of the Middle English period (although not yet in Chaucer). Etymology templates: {{etymid|enm|second-person singular}}, {{yesno|1|i|I}} i, {{glossary|inherited}} inherited, {{inh|enm|ang|-ast|||g=|g2=|g3=|id=second-person singular|lit=|nocat=|pos=class 2 weak second-person singular|sc=|sort=|tr=|ts=}} Old English -ast (class 2 weak second-person singular), {{inh+|enm|ang|-ast|id=second-person singular|nocap=1|pos=class 2 weak second-person singular}} inherited from Old English -ast (class 2 weak second-person singular), {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*-ōs}} Proto-West Germanic *-ōs, {{m+|enm-nor|-es}} Northern Middle English -es, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*-ōsi}} Proto-Germanic *-ōsi, {{inh|enm|ine-pro|*-eh₂yési}} Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yési, {{yesno|1|i|I}} i, {{glossary|inherited}} inherited, {{inh|enm|ang|-est|||g=|g2=|g3=|id=second-person singular|lit=|nocat=|pos=|sc=|sort=|tr=|ts=}} Old English -est, {{inh+|enm|ang|-est|id=second-person singular|nocap=1}} inherited from Old English -est, {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*-ēs}} Proto-West Germanic *-ēs, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*-ēz}} Proto-Germanic *-ēz, {{inh|enm|ine-pro||*-eh₁si}} Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁si Head templates: {{head|enm|suffix|cat2=inflectional suffixes}} -est
  1. Used to form the second-person singular present indicative of verbs (other than preterite-presents). Tags: East-Midlands, Kent, Southern, morpheme
    Sense id: en--est-enm-suffix-1~nF5f7U Categories (other): Pages with 6 entries, Pages with entries, East Midland Middle English, Kentish Middle English, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, West Midland Middle English Disambiguation of Pages with 6 entries: 7 7 14 17 15 7 7 4 6 16 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 5 5 15 19 16 6 6 2 7 18 Disambiguation of East Midland Middle English: 32 36 33 Disambiguation of Kentish Middle English: 32 36 33 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 23 28 25 12 12 Disambiguation of West Midland Middle English: 32 36 33
  2. Used to form the second-person singular past indicative of weak verbs; see -edest Tags: East-Midlands, Kent, Southern, morpheme
    Sense id: en--est-enm-suffix-t9Nik9nd Categories (other): Pages with 6 entries, Pages with entries, East Midland Middle English, Kentish Middle English, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, West Midland Middle English Disambiguation of Pages with 6 entries: 7 7 14 17 15 7 7 4 6 16 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 5 5 15 19 16 6 6 2 7 18 Disambiguation of East Midland Middle English: 32 36 33 Disambiguation of Kentish Middle English: 32 36 33 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 23 28 25 12 12 Disambiguation of West Midland Middle English: 32 36 33
  3. (especially Late Middle English) Used to form the second-person singular past indicative of strong verbs Tags: East-Midlands, Kent, Late-Middle-English, Southern, especially, morpheme
    Sense id: en--est-enm-suffix-jzGFmJch Categories (other): Late Middle English, Pages with 6 entries, Pages with entries, East Midland Middle English, Kentish Middle English, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, West Midland Middle English Disambiguation of Pages with 6 entries: 7 7 14 17 15 7 7 4 6 16 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 5 5 15 19 16 6 6 2 7 18 Disambiguation of East Midland Middle English: 32 36 33 Disambiguation of Kentish Middle English: 32 36 33 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 23 28 25 12 12 Disambiguation of West Midland Middle English: 32 36 33
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 1

Suffix

IPA: /-əst/ Forms: -este [plural], -este [singular, weak], -ist [alternative], -yst [alternative], -ast [alternative, Northern, especially]
Etymology: Inherited from Old English -est, -ost, from Proto-West Germanic *-ist, *-ōst, from Proto-Germanic *-istaz, *-ōstaz, from Proto-Indo-European *-istHos. Northern Middle English -ast is potentially influenced by Old Norse -astr. Etymology templates: {{etymon|enm|:inh|ang:-est<id:most>|id=most}} [Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Germanic", "term" : "*-istaz", "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-West Germanic", "term" : "*-ist", "lang" : "gmw-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Old English", "term" : "-est", "lang" : "ang" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "-est", "lang" : "enm" }" data-id="most" data-lang="enm" data-title="-est" id="Middle_English:_most">, {{yesno||i|I}} I, {{glossary|Inherited}} Inherited, {{inh|enm|ang|-est|||g=|g2=|g3=|id=most|lit=|nocat=|pos=|sc=|sort=|tr=|ts=}} Old English -est, {{inh+|enm|ang|-est|id=most}} Inherited from Old English -est, {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*-ist}} Proto-West Germanic *-ist, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*-istaz}} Proto-Germanic *-istaz, {{inh|enm|ine-pro|*-istHos}} Proto-Indo-European *-istHos, {{m+|enm-nor|-ast}} Northern Middle English -ast, {{cog|non|-astr}} Old Norse -astr Head templates: {{head|enm|suffix|plural and weak singular|-este|cat2=inflectional suffixes}} -est (plural and weak singular -este)
  1. Used to form the superlative degree of adjectives; more, -er. Tags: morpheme
    Sense id: en--est-enm-suffix-enm:adjectival_superlative Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 23 28 25 12 12
  2. Used to form the superlative degree of adverbs; more, -er. Tags: morpheme
    Sense id: en--est-enm-suffix-enm:adverbial_superlative Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 23 28 25 12 12
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "-est"
    },
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ],
      "word": "-st"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "word": "-est"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed",
        "under Chaucerian influence"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "literary"
      ],
      "word": "-ist"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "second-person singular"
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "etymid"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "1",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "i",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-ast",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "second-person singular",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "class 2 weak second-person singular",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English -ast (class 2 weak second-person singular)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-ast",
        "id": "second-person singular",
        "nocap": "1",
        "pos": "class 2 weak second-person singular"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited from Old English -ast (class 2 weak second-person singular)",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*-ōs"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *-ōs",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm-nor",
        "2": "-es"
      },
      "expansion": "Northern Middle English -es",
      "name": "m+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*-ōsi"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *-ōsi",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*-eh₂yési"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yési",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "1",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "i",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-est",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "second-person singular",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English -est",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-est",
        "id": "second-person singular",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited from Old English -est",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*-ēs"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *-ēs",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*-ēz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *-ēz",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "",
        "4": "*-eh₁si"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁si",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "In the present, inherited from Old English -ast (class 2 weak second-person singular), from Proto-West Germanic *-ōs with paragogic -t added from when þū follows (compare Northern Middle English -es), from Proto-Germanic *-ōsi, from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yési.\nIn the past, inherited from Old English -est, from Proto-West Germanic *-ēs (with paragogic -t added as above), from Proto-Germanic *-ēz (with -s by analogy with present forms), from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁si (in *dʰédʰeh₁si, form of *dʰédʰeh₁ti); this suffix is initially limited to weak verbs, but is extended to strong verbs over the course of the Middle English period (although not yet in Chaucer).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "Midland",
      "tags": [
        "Southern",
        "West"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-ist",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-yst",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-st",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English",
        "especially"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-ost",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-ust",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "suffix",
        "cat2": "inflectional suffixes"
      },
      "expansion": "-est",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "suffix",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "7 7 14 17 15 7 7 4 6 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 6 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 5 15 19 16 6 6 2 7 18",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 36 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "East Midland Middle English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 36 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Kentish Middle English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 28 25 12 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 36 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "West Midland Middle English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form the second-person singular present indicative of verbs (other than preterite-presents)."
      ],
      "id": "en--est-enm-suffix-1~nF5f7U",
      "links": [
        [
          "second-person singular",
          "second-person singular#English"
        ],
        [
          "present indicative",
          "present indicative#English"
        ],
        [
          "preterite-present",
          "preterite-present#English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "East-Midlands",
        "Kent",
        "Southern",
        "morpheme"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "7 7 14 17 15 7 7 4 6 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 6 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 5 15 19 16 6 6 2 7 18",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 36 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "East Midland Middle English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 36 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Kentish Middle English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 28 25 12 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 36 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "West Midland Middle English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form the second-person singular past indicative of weak verbs; see -edest"
      ],
      "id": "en--est-enm-suffix-t9Nik9nd",
      "links": [
        [
          "second-person singular",
          "second-person singular#English"
        ],
        [
          "past",
          "past#English"
        ],
        [
          "indicative",
          "indicative#English"
        ],
        [
          "-edest",
          "-edest#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "East-Midlands",
        "Kent",
        "Southern",
        "morpheme"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Late Middle English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 7 14 17 15 7 7 4 6 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 6 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 5 15 19 16 6 6 2 7 18",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 36 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "East Midland Middle English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 36 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Kentish Middle English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 28 25 12 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 36 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "West Midland Middle English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form the second-person singular past indicative of strong verbs"
      ],
      "id": "en--est-enm-suffix-jzGFmJch",
      "links": [
        [
          "second-person singular",
          "second-person singular#English"
        ],
        [
          "past",
          "past#English"
        ],
        [
          "indicative",
          "indicative#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(especially Late Middle English) Used to form the second-person singular past indicative of strong verbs"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "East-Midlands",
        "Kent",
        "Late-Middle-English",
        "Southern",
        "especially",
        "morpheme"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/-əst/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "-est"
}

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "-est"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "-est"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "-ast"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "-est"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "-est"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "ang:-est<id:most>",
        "id": "most"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-istaz\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-ist\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"-est\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-est\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-id=\"most\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"-est\" id=\"Middle_English:_most\">",
      "name": "etymon"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "I",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-est",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "most",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English -est",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-est",
        "id": "most"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Old English -est",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*-ist"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *-ist",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*-istaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *-istaz",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*-istHos"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *-istHos",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm-nor",
        "2": "-ast"
      },
      "expansion": "Northern Middle English -ast",
      "name": "m+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "non",
        "2": "-astr"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Norse -astr",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Inherited from Old English -est, -ost, from Proto-West Germanic *-ist, *-ōst, from Proto-Germanic *-istaz, *-ōstaz, from Proto-Indo-European *-istHos. Northern Middle English -ast is potentially influenced by Old Norse -astr.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "-este",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-este",
      "tags": [
        "singular",
        "weak"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-ist",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-yst",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-ast",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Northern",
        "especially"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "suffix",
        "3": "plural and weak singular",
        "4": "-este",
        "cat2": "inflectional suffixes"
      },
      "expansion": "-est (plural and weak singular -este)",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "suffix",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "23 28 25 12 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form the superlative degree of adjectives; more, -er."
      ],
      "id": "en--est-enm-suffix-enm:adjectival_superlative",
      "links": [
        [
          "more",
          "more#English"
        ],
        [
          "-er",
          "-er#English:_comparative"
        ]
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "enm:adjectival superlative"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "morpheme"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "23 28 25 12 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form the superlative degree of adverbs; more, -er."
      ],
      "id": "en--est-enm-suffix-enm:adverbial_superlative",
      "links": [
        [
          "more",
          "more#English"
        ],
        [
          "-er",
          "-er#English:_comparative"
        ]
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "enm:adverbial superlative"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "morpheme"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/-əst/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "-est"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "East Midland Middle English",
    "Kentish Middle English",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English inflectional suffixes",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English suffixes",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Pages with 6 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "West Midland Middle English"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "-est"
    },
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ],
      "word": "-st"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "word": "-est"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed",
        "under Chaucerian influence"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "literary"
      ],
      "word": "-ist"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "second-person singular"
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "etymid"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "1",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "i",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-ast",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "second-person singular",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "class 2 weak second-person singular",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English -ast (class 2 weak second-person singular)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-ast",
        "id": "second-person singular",
        "nocap": "1",
        "pos": "class 2 weak second-person singular"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited from Old English -ast (class 2 weak second-person singular)",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*-ōs"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *-ōs",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm-nor",
        "2": "-es"
      },
      "expansion": "Northern Middle English -es",
      "name": "m+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*-ōsi"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *-ōsi",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*-eh₂yési"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yési",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "1",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "i",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-est",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "second-person singular",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English -est",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-est",
        "id": "second-person singular",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "inherited from Old English -est",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*-ēs"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *-ēs",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*-ēz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *-ēz",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "",
        "4": "*-eh₁si"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁si",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "In the present, inherited from Old English -ast (class 2 weak second-person singular), from Proto-West Germanic *-ōs with paragogic -t added from when þū follows (compare Northern Middle English -es), from Proto-Germanic *-ōsi, from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yési.\nIn the past, inherited from Old English -est, from Proto-West Germanic *-ēs (with paragogic -t added as above), from Proto-Germanic *-ēz (with -s by analogy with present forms), from Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁si (in *dʰédʰeh₁si, form of *dʰédʰeh₁ti); this suffix is initially limited to weak verbs, but is extended to strong verbs over the course of the Middle English period (although not yet in Chaucer).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "Midland",
      "tags": [
        "Southern",
        "West"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-ist",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-yst",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-st",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Late-Middle-English",
        "especially"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-ost",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-ust",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "suffix",
        "cat2": "inflectional suffixes"
      },
      "expansion": "-est",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "suffix",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form the second-person singular present indicative of verbs (other than preterite-presents)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "second-person singular",
          "second-person singular#English"
        ],
        [
          "present indicative",
          "present indicative#English"
        ],
        [
          "preterite-present",
          "preterite-present#English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "East-Midlands",
        "Kent",
        "Southern",
        "morpheme"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form the second-person singular past indicative of weak verbs; see -edest"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "second-person singular",
          "second-person singular#English"
        ],
        [
          "past",
          "past#English"
        ],
        [
          "indicative",
          "indicative#English"
        ],
        [
          "-edest",
          "-edest#Middle_English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "East-Midlands",
        "Kent",
        "Southern",
        "morpheme"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Late Middle English"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form the second-person singular past indicative of strong verbs"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "second-person singular",
          "second-person singular#English"
        ],
        [
          "past",
          "past#English"
        ],
        [
          "indicative",
          "indicative#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(especially Late Middle English) Used to form the second-person singular past indicative of strong verbs"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "East-Midlands",
        "Kent",
        "Late-Middle-English",
        "Southern",
        "especially",
        "morpheme"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/-əst/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "-est"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English inflectional suffixes",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English suffixes",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Pages with 6 entries",
    "Pages with entries"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "-est"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "-est"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "-ast"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "-est"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "-est"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "ang:-est<id:most>",
        "id": "most"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-istaz\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-ist\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"-est\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-est\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-id=\"most\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"-est\" id=\"Middle_English:_most\">",
      "name": "etymon"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "I",
      "name": "yesno"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-est",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "most",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English -est",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "-est",
        "id": "most"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Old English -est",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*-ist"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *-ist",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*-istaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *-istaz",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*-istHos"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *-istHos",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm-nor",
        "2": "-ast"
      },
      "expansion": "Northern Middle English -ast",
      "name": "m+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "non",
        "2": "-astr"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Norse -astr",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Inherited from Old English -est, -ost, from Proto-West Germanic *-ist, *-ōst, from Proto-Germanic *-istaz, *-ōstaz, from Proto-Indo-European *-istHos. Northern Middle English -ast is potentially influenced by Old Norse -astr.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "-este",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-este",
      "tags": [
        "singular",
        "weak"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-ist",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-yst",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-ast",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Northern",
        "especially"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "suffix",
        "3": "plural and weak singular",
        "4": "-este",
        "cat2": "inflectional suffixes"
      },
      "expansion": "-est (plural and weak singular -este)",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "suffix",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form the superlative degree of adjectives; more, -er."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "more",
          "more#English"
        ],
        [
          "-er",
          "-er#English:_comparative"
        ]
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "enm:adjectival superlative"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "morpheme"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form the superlative degree of adverbs; more, -er."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "more",
          "more#English"
        ],
        [
          "-er",
          "-er#English:_comparative"
        ]
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "enm:adverbial superlative"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "morpheme"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/-əst/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "-est"
}

Download raw JSONL data for -est meaning in Middle English (9.8kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-05-09 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-05-01 using wiktextract (f3d3fdb and ae80fde). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.