merely that it has it in a high degree, as făcillĭmŭs easiest or very easy.
To give the Comparative and Superlative of an Adjective (or Adverb) is often called to "Compare" it.
§ 36. The Comparative is formed by adding the terminations, M. F. -ĭŏr, N. -iŭs, to the base of the Adjective.
The Superlative is formed:
(1) By adding -ĭssĭmŭs (-ă, -um) to the Base unless the Nom. Masc. ends in -ĕr.
(2) By adding -rĭmŭs (-ă, -um) to the Nom, Masc. if it ends in -ĕr.
§ 37. Exx. of regular Comparison:—
Pos. | Comp. | Superl. |
tūt-ŭs safe | tūtĭŏr | tūtissĭmŭs |
fortĭs brave | fortĭŏr | fortissĭmŭs |
prūdēns prudent | prūdentĭŏr | prūdentissĭmŭs |
audāx hold | audācĭŏr | audācissĭmŭs |
pĭgĕr slow | pĭgrĭŏr | pĭgerrĭmŭs |
cĕlĕr swift | cĕlĕrĭŏr | celerrĭmŭs |
§ 38. The following exceptions should be noted:
1. Six Adjectives in -ĭlĭs form the Superl. by adding -lĭmŭs to the Base; as făcĭl-ĭs, Comp. făcĭl-ĭŏr, Superl. făcil-lĭmŭs.
They are—
făcĭlĭs easy | sĭmĭlĭs like | grăcĭlĭs slender |
diffĭcĭlĭs difficult | dissĭmĭlĭs unlike | hŭmĭlĭs low |
Most Verbal Adjectives in -ĭlĭs have no Superlative.
2. Compound Adjectives in -dĭcŭs, -fĭcŭs, and -vŏlŭs, have -entĭŏr, -entissĭmŭs in the Comp. and Superl.: as mălĕ-vŏlŭs ill-disposed, Comp. mălĕ-vŏlentĭŏr, Superl. mălĕ-vŏlentissĭmŭs.