-most

/ˌməʊst/

suffix

Furthest; -est; used to form superlatives of certain adjectives, especially directional and inherently-comparative ones.

“nether + -most → nethermost”

OriginMiddle English -most(e) ← Old English -(e)mest ← Proto-Germanic *-umistaz →
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Meanings

suffix
  1. Furthest; -est; used to form superlatives of certain adjectives, especially directional and inherently-comparative ones.

    nether + -most → nethermost

    1 more example

    eastern + -most → easternmost

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*-mHo-
  2. Proto-Germanic*-umistaz
  3. Old English-(e)mest
  4. Middle English-most(e)
  5. English-most

From Middle English -most(e), from earlier -mest, from Old English -(e)mest, from Proto-Germanic *-umistaz, from the comparative suffix *-umô (from Proto-Indo-European *-mHo-) + the regular superlative suffix *-istaz (whence English -est). The Middle English form is due to conflation with the originally unrelated superlative most. See foremost for more.

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Germanic

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

-most. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-most

MLA

“-most.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-most. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-most,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-most.

Source: -most on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.