Advertisement
furthest (adj., adv.)
late 14c., formed as superlatives to further (adj. and adv.).
Entries linking to furthest
further (adv.)Old English furðor, forðor "to a more advanced position, forward, onward, beyond, more distant; farther away; later, afterward; to a greater degree or extent, in addition; moreover," etymologically representing either "forth-er" or "fore-ther." The former would be from furðum (see forth) + comparative suffix *-eron-, *-uron- (compare inner, outer).
Alternative etymology (Watkins) traces it to Proto-Germanic *furthera-, from PIE *pr-tero- (source also of Greek proteros "former"), representing the root *per- (1) "forward" + comparative suffix also found in after, other. Senses of "in addition, to a greater extent" are later metaphoric developments.
It replaced or absorbed farrer, ferrer as comparative of far (itself a comparative but no longer felt as one). Farrer itself displaced Old English fierr in this job; farrer survived until 17c., then was reduced to dialect by rival farther. "The primary sense of further, farther is 'more forward, more onward'; but this sense is practically coincident with that of the comparative degree of far, where the latter word refers to real or attributed motion in some particular direction." [OED]
Alternative etymology (Watkins) traces it to Proto-Germanic *furthera-, from PIE *pr-tero- (source also of Greek proteros "former"), representing the root *per- (1) "forward" + comparative suffix also found in after, other. Senses of "in addition, to a greater extent" are later metaphoric developments.
It replaced or absorbed farrer, ferrer as comparative of far (itself a comparative but no longer felt as one). Farrer itself displaced Old English fierr in this job; farrer survived until 17c., then was reduced to dialect by rival farther. "The primary sense of further, farther is 'more forward, more onward'; but this sense is practically coincident with that of the comparative degree of far, where the latter word refers to real or attributed motion in some particular direction." [OED]
Others are reading
Share furthest
‘cite’
Page URL:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/furthest
HTML Link:
<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/furthest">Etymology of furthest by etymonline</a>
APA style:
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of furthest. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/furthest
Chicago style:
Harper Douglas, “Etymology of furthest,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/furthest.
MLA style:
Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of furthest.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/furthest. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
IEEE style:
D. Harper. “Etymology of furthest.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/furthest (accessed $(datetime)).
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of furthest
1
furthest (adv.)
to the greatest degree or extent or most advanced stage (`furthest' is used more often than `farthest' in this abstract sense);
went the furthest of all the children in her education
furthest removed from reality
Synonyms: farthest
furthest (adv.)
to the greatest distance in space or time (`farthest' is used more often than `furthest' in this physical sense);
he swam the furthest
Synonyms: farthest
Dictionary entries near furthest
furrow
furry
further
furtherance
furthermore
furthest
furtive
furtively
furuncle
fury
furze
