Superlative of "rapid"

on 20 Nov 2003:
[nq:1]What is the superlative form of "rapid"? Thanks in advance.[/nq]
"rapidest" or "most rapid".

Thanks CyberCypher. A question: have you actually heard "rapidest" used?

Thanks in advance.

Howard
[nq:1] on 20 Nov 2003:[/nq]
[nq:2]What is the superlative form of "rapid"? Thanks in advance.[/nq]
[nq:1]"rapidest" or "most rapid".[/nq]

[nq:2] on 20 Nov 2003: "rapidest" or "most rapid".[/nq]
-- "Throw me that lipstick, darling, I wanna redo my stigmata." +-Jennifer Saunders, "Absolutely Fabulous"

on 21 Nov 2003:
[nq:2] on 20 Nov 2003: "rapidest" or "most rapid".[/nq]
[nq:1]Thanks CyberCypher. A question: have you actually heard "rapidest" used? Thanks in advance.[/nq]
I can't remember, but there's nothing wrong with it. If you check a good dictionary with usage examples, you'll see that many writers use it.

[nq:2]Thanks CyberCypher. A question: have you actually heard "rapidest" used?[/nq]
[nq:1]I doubt anyone could really be sure that they had not heard such a thing. It sounds weird though to me.[/nq]
Rule of thumb has been for quite some time that 1 and 2 syllable words can add -er/-est but if it doesn't sound right, use more/most.

speediest solution sounds better than most speedy

on 22 Nov 2003:
[nq:2] I doubt anyone could really be sure that they had not heard such a thing. It sounds weird though to me.[/nq]
[nq:1]Rule of thumb has been for quite some time that 1 and 2 syllable words can add -er/-est but if it doesn't sound right, use more/most. speediest solution sounds better than most speedy rapidest solution sounds worse than most rapid Agreed.[/nq]