What does the suffix est mean?

The suffix "-est" is used to form the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs in English. It indicates the highest degree or most extreme level of the quality being described.

Here's how it works:

* Adjectives: The superlative form compares three or more things and highlights the one with the most extreme quality.

* Example: tall (adjective) becomes tallest (superlative)

* Adverbs: The superlative form indicates the highest level of the action or manner.

* Example: quickly (adverb) becomes quickest (superlative)

Here are some other things to note about the suffix "-est":

* Irregular forms: Some adjectives and adverbs have irregular superlative forms (e.g., good - best, bad - worst).

* Two-syllable words: For two-syllable adjectives ending in "-y," the "-est" is added directly (e.g., happy - happiest). For other two-syllable adjectives, "most" is usually used instead of "-est" (e.g., beautiful - most beautiful).

* Words ending in "-e": The "e" is usually dropped before adding "-est" (e.g., large - largest).

Let me know if you'd like more examples or have any other questions!