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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]
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updated on January 27, 2015
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Definitions of furthest from WordNet
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
2
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.
Dictionary entries near furthest
furrow
furry
further
furtherance
furthermore
furthest
furtive
furtively
furuncle
fury
furze
