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CONTRACTIONS -est dropped in superlatives after dentals and liquids

Est in superlatives is often pronounced st after dentals and liquids. A similar euphonic contraction with respect to est in verbs is found in E. E. Thus "bindest" becomes "binst," "eatest" becomes "est." Our "best" is a contraction for "bet-est." “Twó of | the swéet'st | compán | ions ín | the wórld.” Cymb. v. 5. 349. “At yóur | kind'st léisure.” Macbeth, ii. 1. 24. “The stérn'st | good níght.” Ib. ii. 2. 4. “Secret'st.” Ib. iii. 4. 126. “Thís is | thy éld'st | son's són.” K. J. ii. 1. 177.

So Temp. v. 1. 186. “Since déath | of mý | dear'st móth | er.” Cymb. iv. 2. 190. “The lóy | al'st hús | band thát | did é'er | plight tróth.” Ib. i. 1. 96.

A. W. ii. 1. 163, "great'st." "The sweet'st, dear'st."--W. T. iii. 2. 202. "Near'st."--Macb. iii. 1. 118. "Unpleasant'st."--M. of V. iii. 2. 254. "Strong'st."--Rich. II. iii. 3. 201. "Short'st."--Ib. v. 1. 80. "Common'st."--Ib. v. 3. 17. "Faithfull'st."--T. N. v. 1. 117.

This lasted past the Elizabethan period. “Know there are rhymes which fresh and fresh apply'd
Will cure the arrant'st puppy of his pride.” POPE, Imit. Hor. Epist. i. 60. The Folio reads "stroakst," and "made" in “Thou stróakedst | me ánd | madest múch | of mé, | would'st
gíve me.” Tempest, i. 2. 333. But the accent on "and" is harsh. Perhaps "and má | dest."

A Shakespearean Grammar. Edwin Abbott Abbott. London and New York. Macmillan and Company. 1870.

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