svakest

Svakest is a linguistic term referring to the superlative form of the adjective svak, meaning weak, in several Scandinavian languages. It is used to indicate that something or someone is the weakest within a group. In Danish and Norwegian varieties, svakest forms part of the standard system for expressing degree of weakness, used where a comparison involves three or more items. The word functions as an attributive adjective and can appear with definite determiners or as a predicate in clauses.

Etymology and form: The base svak derives from a common Germanic root for weak. The superlative suffix -est is a typical marker of the superlative degree in Germanic languages, yielding the sense of "the most weak." The exact spelling and usage can vary somewhat between Danish and Norwegian dialects and grammars, and related forms may be found in different orthographic standards.

Usage notes: In practice, svakest is most commonly encountered in written texts and formal speech; in some dialects or orthographies, related forms such as svakeste or svageste may appear. As with other superlatives, it often functions with a definite determiner or in predicative position to express being the weakest among a set.

See also: Weak (degree), Danish language, Norwegian language, Germanic languages.