est

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*ān-“to notice; face, mouth”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*anstiz“favour, affection”
3. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*ansti
4. Old English · derived fromēst“will, consent, favour”
5. Middle English · derived fromeste
6. English todayest

From Middle English este, from Old English ēst (“will, consent, favour”), from Proto-West Germanic *ansti, from Proto-Germanic *anstiz (“favour, affection”), from Proto-Indo-European *ān- (“to notice; face, mouth”) or from *h₃neh₂- (“to bestow, offer, help; to enjoy”). Cognate with Icelandic ást (“affection, love”), Dutch gunst (“favour, grace, courtesy, privilege”), German Gunst (“favour, goodwill, boon”), Danish yndest (“favour”), Swedish ynnest (“favour, indulgence, grace”).