02.12.24: level 2; degrees of comparison [14]; the superlative (1); the biggest, the most beautiful, the best

Image #1: The superlative in English expresses: the biggest or the most beautiful or, with irregular forms e.g. the best or the worst.

a superlative performance: one that is done to the highest degree of skill

positive degree

longus, -a, um: long

comparative degree

longior, longius: longer

superlative degree

long¦issim¦us, long¦issim¦a, long¦issim¦um: (the) longest

[1] Images #2 and #3: For almost all adjectives Latin adds -issimus, -a, -um to the stem of the adjective and they decline in exactly the same way as any other 1^st / 2^nd declension adjective.

calid|us, -a, -um: hot > calid|issimus, -a, -um: hottest

frīgid|us, -a, -um: cold  > frīgid|issimus, -a, -um: coldest

[2] Image #4: Adjectives which end in -r in the positive degree form the superlative by adding -rimus to the masculine nominative singular form i.e. the /r/ is doubled:

pulcher, pulchra, -um: beautiful > pulcherrimus, -a, -um:  most beautiful

ācer, ācris, ācre: bitter; severe > ācerrimus, -a, -um: most bitter; most severe

[3] Image #5: For 3rd declension adjectives -issimus, -a, -um is added to the stem of the genitive singular of the positive degree of the adjective. 2 examples:

[i] nominative singular: fēlīx (happy)

> genitive singular: fēlīc¦is

> comparative: fēlīc¦ior (happier)

> superlative: fēlīc¦issimus (happiest)

[ii] nominative singular: recēns (recent)

> genitive singular: recent¦is

> comparative: recent¦ior (more recent)

> superlative: recent¦issimus (most recent)

[4] A small group of adjectives form their superlative by adding -limus, -a, -um to the stem i.e. the /l/ is doubled; the six adjectives listed below are the only ones which form the superlative in this way.

facil | is, -e: easy > facillimus, -a, -um: easiest

difficilis, -e: difficult > difficillimus, -a, -um: most difficult

similis, -e: similar > simillimus, -a, -um: most similar

dissimilis, -e: dissimilar; different > dissimillimus, -a, -um: most unlike

gracilis, -e: slender > gracillimus, -a, -um: most slender

humilis, -e: humble > humillimus, -a, -um: humblest