Tyndest

Tyndest is the superlative form of the Scots-English adjective tynd, meaning thin or slender. The word is dialectal and largely archaic in standard English; modern prose typically uses thinnest or leanest. It appears in historical texts, poetry, and translations preserving older forms.

Etymology: The stem tynd is found in Scots and Northern English dialects, linked to early Germanic words for thin. The suffix -est is the standard superlative ending in Middle English and Scots, yielding tyndest as the thinnest in that dialect. The term is primarily of philological interest today.

Usage and examples: Because it is archaic, tyndest is rarely used outside scholarly discussion. When used, it may describe physical slenderness, threads, fabrics, or textures: e.g., "the tyndest thread" or "a tyndest blade of grass" in an older or stylized register. In modern writing, thinnest or leanest is preferred. See also: Scots language, Scottish English, thin, thinnest.