Blowiest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by the most significant windiness or force of air movement; exhibiting attributes of the highest degree of blowing or gusting; describing the condition of being the most marked by blustery or breezy effects
2. Emphasizing the utmost intensity of air flow or turbulence; revealing characteristics of the strongest winds or breezes present; denoting the extreme state of wind activity or forcefulness
3. Indicating a state where blowing reaches its peak intensity or ferocity; showcasing traits associated with the highest levels of aeration or airflow; referring to the ultimate experience of windy conditions

Etymology: "Blowiest" is the superlative of "blowy", which is simply "blow" plus the adjectival suffix "-y", so the story belongs to the verb and the ending. Those two parts come from different ancestors. "Blow" descends from Old English "blāwan", meaning to blow air or to bloom, and it traces back through Proto-Germanic to a very old Indo-European root, so the core of the word is native English rather than borrowed. The ending "-y" has a long pedigree too. It comes from Old English "-iġ", which carried the sense of "full of" or "having the quality of", as in "stony" or "windy" in the older sense. That same ending is also found in diminutive uses, which is part of why the suffix is so common in informal English words. Put together, "blowy" meant something like "full of blowing," which is why it describes weather rich in wind. Its superlative, "blowiest", simply marks the windiest of several places or days.

Synonyms: windiest, gustiest, stormiest, breeziest, draftiest

Antonyms: calmest, stillest, quietest, smoothest, peaceful