Mildste

Mildste is a linguistic term used to refer to the superlative form of the adjective mild in several North Germanic language contexts. It denotes the most mild or least intense degree of a quality described by the base adjective. The form is typically discussed in relation to how different languages create superlatives from mild, rather than as a standalone concept.

Etymology and form: The base adjective mild originates in Germanic roots that appear across English, Scandinavian languages, and related dialects. In forming superlatives, Scandinavian languages historically employ endings such as -aste or -este, with regional and orthographic variation. The exact spelling of the superlative can differ by language and historical period, and mildste may appear as a regional or archaic variant alongside the standard forms.

Usage and variation: In modern standard usage, the most common written forms differ by language. In Swedish, the equivalent superlative is typically mildaste, while in Danish and Norwegian, the standard forms are more commonly mildeste. The form mildste is therefore primarily encountered as a regional variant, an older text form, or within dialectal usage, rather than as the prevailing form in contemporary formal writing.

See also: mild, mildness, superlative, languages of the Nordic region, Scandinavian grammar.

Notes: Mildste is not widely recognized as a separate lexical entry outside grammatical discussions of inflection. When encountered, it is generally understood as a historical, dialectal, or orthographic variant of the standard superlative form of mild.