ésta

æðsta is an Icelandic adjective meaning "the highest" or "the supreme." It functions as a superlative form used with feminine or neuter singular nouns in definite constructions, and it denotes utmost degree or rank. The masculine singular definite form of the same adjective is typically æðsti, while the plural definite form is æðstu. In everyday Icelandic, æðsta appears most often in formal or emphatic contexts.

Usage of æðsta spans legal, political, religious, and literary language. It is commonly paired with nouns that designate authority, importance, or aim, such as valds (power), stöðu (status), or markmið (goal). Phrases such as æðsta valdið (the highest authority) or æðsta markmið (the ultimate goal) illustrate its role in signaling extremity or extremal status. The word can appear before the noun as a modifier or after in certain stylistic constructions, depending on emphasis and syntax.

In terms of form, æðsta reflects Icelandic adjective inflection, adapting to gender, number, and definiteness of the noun it accompanies. Its use is characteristic of formal registers and written language, though it remains widely understood in contemporary Icelandic. The word embodies the concept of superiority or extremity that appears across many West Scandinavian languages.

Etymologically, æðsta is derived from an older form of the adjective meaning "high" or "great," with the superlative function developed in Icelandic and related North Germanic languages. The term thus reflects a long-standing linguistic tradition of expressing maximum degree within a noun phrase.