different between comparative vs superlative
comparative
English
Etymology
From Middle French comparatif, from Latin comparativus, equivalent to comparatus, from comparare (“to compare”) + -ive, from Latin -ivus.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /k?m?pæ?.?.t?v/
- (General American) enPR: k?m?p?r-?-t?v
- (Mary–marry–merry distinction) IPA(key): /k?m?pæ?.?.t?v/
- (Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA(key): /k?m?p??.?.t?v/
- (Mary–marry–merry distinction)
- (Mary–marry–merry merger)
- Hyphenation: com?par?a?tive
Adjective
comparative (comparative more comparative, superlative most comparative)
- Of or relating to comparison.
- (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- 1773, James Burnett, Of the Origin and Progress of Language
- that kind of animals that have the comparative faculty, by which they compare things together, deliberate and resolve
- Using comparison as a method of study, or founded on something using it.
- Approximated by comparison; relative.
- 1837, William Whewell, History of the Inductive Sciences
- The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.
- 1692, Richard Bentley, A Confutation of Atheism
- This bubble, […] by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that encloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top.
- 1837, William Whewell, History of the Inductive Sciences
- (obsolete) Comparable; bearing comparison.
- 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, II.137:
- And need he had of slumber yet, for none / Had suffered more—his hardships were comparative / To those related in my grand-dad's Narrative.
- 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, II.137:
Derived terms
Translations
Noun
comparative (plural comparatives)
- (grammar) A construction showing a relative quality, in English usually formed by adding more or appending -er. For example, the comparative of green is greener; of evil, more evil.
- (grammar) A word in the comparative form.
- (chiefly in the plural) Data used to make a comparison.
- (obsolete) An equal; a rival; a compeer.
- Gerrard ever was / His full comparative.
- (obsolete) One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.
- 1597, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Pt. 1, III.ii.67:
- Every beardless vain comparative.
- 1597, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Pt. 1, III.ii.67:
Synonyms
- (grammar: degree): comparative degree
Translations
Related terms
- absolute, absolute superlative, relative superlative, comparative superlative
- degrees of comparison
- superlative
See also
- contrastive
References
- “comparative”, in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin, 2000, ?ISBN
- “comparative” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
- "comparative" in WordNet 2.0, Princeton University, 2003.
Anagrams
- vampire taco
French
Adjective
comparative
- feminine singular of comparatif
Italian
Adjective
comparative
- feminine plural of comparativo
Anagrams
- comparivate
- crepitavamo
Latin
Adjective
compar?t?ve
- vocative masculine singular of compar?t?vus
References
- comparative in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
comparative From the web:
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superlative
English
Etymology
From Middle English superlatyf, from Old French superlatif, from Late Latin superl?t?vus, from Latin superl?tus (“extravagant, of hyperbole”), past participle of superfero (“carry over”), from super (“above”) + fero (“bear, carry”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /su??p??.l?.t?v/, /sju??p??.l?.t?v/
- (US) IPA(key): /su?p??.l?.t?v/
Noun
superlative (plural superlatives)
- The extreme (e.g. highest, lowest, deepest, farthest, deepest, etc) extent or degree of something.
- Synonyms: acme, apex, height, zenith
- (grammar) The form of an adjective that expresses which of several items has the highest degree of the quality expressed by the adjective; in English, formed by appending "-est" to the end of the adjective (for some short adjectives only) or putting "most" before it.
- (informal) An adjective used to praise something exceptional.
- 2019, Daniel Taylor, Lionel Messi magic puts Barcelona in command of semi-final with Liverpool (in The Guardian, 1 May 2019)[1]
- Sometimes it feels like there are no more superlatives left. Seriously, what else can be said about this little guy with the No 10 shirt and magic in his feet other than to ask, perhaps, whether there is anyone who wants to persist with the argument that Pelé, or Diego Maradona, or any of the others, have ever played this sport any better?
- 2019, Daniel Taylor, Lionel Messi magic puts Barcelona in command of semi-final with Liverpool (in The Guardian, 1 May 2019)[1]
Synonyms
- (highest degree): acme, peak
Hyponyms
- absolute superlative
- relative superlative
Related terms
- superlative degree
Translations
Adjective
superlative (not comparable)
- Exceptionally good; of the highest quality; superb.
- (grammar) Of or relating to a superlative.
Usage notes
Rather formal, reflecting its Latin etymology; more colloquial alternatives include exceptional, fabulous, above and beyond, and others.
Synonyms
- (exceptionally good): above and beyond, exceptional, extraordinary, superb
Translations
See also
- absolute
- comparative
- elative
French
Adjective
superlative
- feminine singular of superlatif
Italian
Adjective
superlative
- feminine plural of superlativo
Latin
Adjective
superl?t?ve
- vocative masculine singular of superl?t?vus
superlative From the web:
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