donkerst

Donkerst is a Dutch word that is generally understood as the superlative form of the adjective donker, meaning “the darkest” or “the most dark.” In contemporary standard Dutch, the usual spelling for the superlative is donkerste. Donkerst occurs primarily in historical texts or certain regional dialects and is typically considered nonstandard in modern writing.

Etymology and form: The adjective donker comes from Old Dutch and Proto-Germanic roots for “dark.” Dutch forms the standard superlative with the suffix -ste (as in donkerste). The form donkerst is associated with older spellings or dialectal pronunciation where the suffix was shortened. Today, the preferred spelling for the superlative is donkerste, while donkerst is treated as a nonstandard or archaic variant in most contexts.

Usage: Donkerst is rarely used in contemporary Dutch. When expressing “the darkest,” speakers normally use donkerste. Examples of standard usage include: De donkerste kamer was nauwelijks verlicht. Het donkerste deel van de nacht duurde langer dan verwacht.

Notes: Donkerst does not convey a distinct meaning beyond being a historical or regional variant of the same superlative concept. In most formal or widely read texts, donkerste is preferred. See also: adjectives in Dutch, comparisons, donker, donkerste.