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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Pronounciation

The Bible uses gavest, spakest, broughtest, camest, etc. I have heard that if the word ends with an "e" then only the "st" is pronounced, but if it ends with a consonant then the "est" is pronounced. Is this correct? I do not hear it that way very often.
  

Top answer

Interesting question! I don't know. I would think that as we don't use those forms in everyday speech our pronunciation will be influenced by that of comparatives like gravest , shortest , lamest , and so on, that we do use, so that might be why they typically are pronounced as -est by modern speakers.

— Blue Jay

  • Interesting question!
  • I don't know.
  • I would think that as we don't use those forms in everyday speech our pronunciation will be influenced by that of comparatives like gravest , shortest , lamest , and so on, that we do use, so that might be why they typically are pronounced as -est by modern speakers.
  • I'll see what I can find out about how they were pronounced when the KJV was being prepared, though.
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7 Answers
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Interesting question! I don't know. I would think that as we don't use those forms in everyday speech our pronunciation will be influenced by that of comparatives like gravest, shortest, lamest, and so on, that we do use, so that might be why they typically are pronounced as -est by modern speakers. I'll see what I can find out about how they were pronounced when
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This site: http://originalpronunciation.com/ provides fascinating information on Elizabethan pronunciation. Glancing through the Sonnets, it appears that the -st pronunciation was common except following "hard" consonants like T. For an example, check out the first few lines of Sonnet 11 at
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AnonymousThe Bible uses gavest, spakest, broughtest, camest, etc.
I'm surprised. I've always thought that -est and -eth endings were only used in the present tense.
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CalifJimI'm surprised. I've always thought that -est and -eth endings were only used in the present tense.
John 17:6: I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

1 Sam 28:21: And the woman came to Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said
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Blue Jaywhich thou spokest to me.
So where does "spakest" come from? Emotion: sad

(See original pos
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CalifJim Blue Jaywhich thou spokest to me.So where does "spakest" come from? (See original post.)CJ
My mistake.
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