Note 3 — Chapter IV
Reading edition
This ending is not explained. Zeuss, comparing the endings er and st, suggests a comparative and superlative, which is not probable. In the present, as in some other cases, I take it to be only a phonetic form of ss, and make Ambastus properly Ambassus. But in some other cases, as that of the Nestus, which compares with Sansc. nisitas, fluid, it seems to be formative.