wohltätigst

Wohltätigst is the superlative form of the German adjective wohltätig, meaning benevolent or charitable. It describes actions, institutions or people that display the highest degree of benevolence. In standard usage, the attributive superlative appears as der wohltätigste, die wohltätigste or das wohltätigste (for example, der wohltätigste Spender, die wohltätigste Stiftung). Predicative constructions follow the same pattern, as in Er ist der wohltätigste Mensch, den ich kenne. Adverbial or highly formal uses of the standalone form wohltätigst are rare in contemporary speech and can sound archaic; in everyday language speakers typically use alternatives such as am wohltätigsten or simply großzügig.

Etymology and relation to related terms: wohltätig derives from Wohl (well, good) and tätig (active, doing), related to the noun Wohltat (a benevolent act or boon) and to Wohltätigkeit (charity, benevolence). The term sits within a family of words describing philanthropy and benefaction, including Wohltäter (benefactor) and Wohltätigkeitsorganisation (charitable organization).

Usage notes: Wohltätigst tends to appear in formal, literary, or ceremonial contexts and historical writing. In modern journalism and everyday language, speakers prefer the standard superlative forms or substitute terms like großzügig, wohltätigkeit or charitable phrases rather than the archaic-sounding standalone wohltätigst.

See also: Wohltätigkeit, Wohltäter, Wohltat, Wohltätigkeitsorganisation.