In Sanskrit 'iyas" and "iST" (or "tar" and "tam") are used as suffixes respectively for comparative and superlative suffixes. "er" from "tar" becomes the suffix for comparatives.
http://sanskrit-words.blogspot.com/2007/09/sandhi-rules-in-english-spellings.html
द्राघिष्ठ - longest
ह्रसिष्ठ - shortest
दविष्ठ - remotest
नेदिष्ठ - nearest
प्रथिष्ठ - widest
अणिष्ठ - minutest
गरिष्ठ - heaviest
लघिष्ठ - lightest
better - बाहतर
