Likest

Likest is a word that appears in older forms of English, specifically in Middle English and Early Modern English. It is the superlative form of the adjective "like," meaning most like or most similar. For example, one might say "This is the likest thing I have ever seen to my old house" to express that something strongly resembles their old house.

The word "likest" is rarely used in modern English, having been largely replaced by "most like" or "most similar." Its usage is largely confined to historical texts, literary works that deliberately employ archaic language, or in certain dialects that have retained older linguistic features. Understanding "likest" is important for comprehending older literature and for appreciating the evolution of the English language. The grammatical structure of forming superlatives by adding "-est" was common for many adjectives in Old and Middle English, and "likest" follows this pattern, similar to words like "greatest" or "strongest." However, as English evolved, this suffix became less common for adjectives already ending in certain sounds, and alternative constructions with "most" became more prevalent.