different between inimitable vs superlative

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French inimitable, from Latin inimitabilis, corresponding to in- +? imitable.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n??m?t?bl?/

Adjective

inimitable (comparative more inimitable, superlative most inimitable)

1. Beyond imitation, surpassing all others, matchless.

   Antonyms: imitable, commonplace

Usage notes

Not to be confused with inimicable (“harmful, hostile”).

Derived terms

• inimitability
• inimitably

Translations

See also

• illimitable

French

Etymology

in- +? imitable.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i.ni.mi.tabl/

Adjective

inimitable (plural inimitables)

1. unmatched, uncontestable, inimitable

Derived terms

• inimitabilité

Further reading

• “inimitable” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Spanish

Adjective

inimitable (plural inimitables)

1. inimitable

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)

1. The extreme (e.g. highest, lowest, deepest, farthest, deepest, etc) extent or degree of something.

   Synonyms: acme, apex, height, zenith
2. (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.

3. (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?

Synonyms

• (highest degree): acme, peak

Hyponyms

• absolute superlative
• relative superlative

Related terms

• superlative degree

Translations

Adjective

superlative (not comparable)

1. Exceptionally good; of the highest quality; superb.
2. (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

1. feminine singular of superlatif

Italian

Adjective

superlative

1. feminine plural of superlativo

Latin

Adjective

superl?t?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of superl?t?vus