Heavy Construction

The Allen and Greenough is still under construction; so some links may not work quite the way you would expect.

124.

The Comparative is regularly formed by adding -ior (neuter -ius),[1][The comparative suffix (earlier -iós) is akin to the Greek-, or the Sanskrit -iyans. That of the superlative (-issimus) is a double form of uncertain origin. It appears to contain the is- of the old suffix -is-to-s (seen in -o- and English sweetest) and also the old -mo-s (seen in prí-mus, mini-mus, etc.). The endings -limus and -rimus are formed by assimilation (§ 15.6) from -simus. The comparative and superlative are really new stems, and are not strictly to be regarded as forms of inflection.] the Superlative by adding -issimus (-a, -um), to the stem of the Positive, which loses its final vowel: -

cárus, dear (stem cáro-); cárior, dearer; cárissimus, dearest.
levis, light (stem levi-); levior, lighter; levissimus, lightest.
félix, happy (stem félic-); félícior, happier; félícissimus, happiest.
hebes, dull (stem hebet-); hebetior, duller; hebetissimus, dullest.
NOTE: A form of diminutive is made upon the stem of some comparatives: as, grandius-culus, a little larger (see § 243).



a. Participles when used as adjectives are regularly compared: -

  • 

  • patiéns, patient; patientior, patientissimus.

    

  • apertus, open; apertior, apertissimus.