*-istaz

Runic: ᛁᛊᛏᚨᛉ Pronunciation: /is.tɑz/

suffix · forms adjectives · a-stem

Function

forms the superlative of certain adjectives

Etymology

From the Proto-Indo-European formation *-is-tó-s, from an elative suffix *-yos- ~ *-is- + *-tó- (Meier-Brügger 2003: 219–22; Ringe 2017: 229, 316–18). It was the inherited adjectival superlative suffix corresponding to comparative *-is. It was commonly used with i-, u-, and ja-stem adjectives. Proto-Germanic also developed a similar suffix, *-ōstaz, corresponding to the comparative form *-ōz, mainly used with a/ō-stem adjectives. But note that the distribution of *-istaz and *-ōstaz in adjectives based on a/ō-stem adjectives was lexical and analogical and not fully predictable (Fulk 2018: 219–20). This suffix is cognate with Ancient Greek -ῐστος (-ĭstos) and Sanskrit -इष्ठ (-iṣṭha) (which reflects the related PIE variant *-is-th₂o-) both forming superlative adjectives (Meier-Brügger 2003: 221–22).

Paradigm

Strong declension

CaseSg. Masc.Sg. Fem.Sg. Neut.Pl. Masc.Pl. Fem.Pl. Neut.
Nom.-istaz-istō-istą, -atō-istai-istôz-istō
Acc.-istanǭ-istǭ-istą, -atō-istanz-istōz-istō
Gen.-istas, -is-istaizōz-istas, -is-istaizǫ̂-istaizǫ̂-istaizǫ̂
Dat.-istammai-istaizōi-istammai-istaimaz-istaimaz-istaimaz
Inst.-istanō-istaizō-istanō-istaimiz-istaimiz-istaimiz

Weak declension

CaseSg. Masc.Sg. Fem.Sg. Neut.Pl. Masc.Pl. Fem.Pl. Neut.
Nom.-istô-istǭ-istô-istaniz-istōniz-istōnō
Acc.-istanų-istōnų-istô-istanunz-istōnunz-istōnō
Gen.-istiniz-istōniz-istiniz-istanǫ̂-istōnǫ̂-istanǫ̂
Dat.-istini-istōni-istini-istammaz-istōmaz-istammaz
Inst.-istinē-istōnē-istinē-istammiz-istōmiz-istammiz

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Descendants

  • *-ist (Proto-West Germanic)
    • -ist (Old Dutch)
      • -st (Middle Dutch)
        • -st (Dutch)
  • *-ist (Proto-West Germanic)
    • -est (Old English)
      • -est (Middle English)
        • -est (English)
        • -est (Scots)
  • *-ist (Proto-West Germanic)
    • -st (Old Frisian)
      • -st (Saterland Frisian)
      • -st (West Frisian)
  • *-ist (Proto-West Germanic)
    • -ist (Old High German)
      • -est (Middle High German)
        • -st (German)
  • *-ist (Proto-West Germanic)
    • -ist (Old Saxon)
      • -est (Middle Low German)
        • -st (Low German)
  • -str (Old Norse)
    • -st (Danish)
    • -stur (Faroese)
    • -stur (Icelandic)
    • -st (Norwegian)
  • -str (Old Norse)
    • -ster (Old Swedish)
      • -st (Swedish)
  • -𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (-ists) (Gothic)

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