alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library
alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library
alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library
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ETYMOLOGY-ADJECTIVES. 41<br />
l~s8 and least to the positivI); as, sweet, less sweet, least sweet. This, by way<br />
of distinction, is sometimes called the compari"on of diminution, or comparison<br />
descending.<br />
218. The meaning of the p02itive is sometimes diminished without employing<br />
comparison, by annexing the syllable is"; as, white, whitish;<br />
black, blackish. These may be called diminutive adjectives. So also<br />
yarious shades, degrees, or modificatious of quality are frequently expressed<br />
by connecting with the adjective such words as rather, 80mewhat,<br />
slightly, a little, too, very, greatly, &c., Rnd, in the comparative and superlative,<br />
by such words fiS much,far, altogether, by far, &c.<br />
219. Such adjectives as, ,uperior, inferior, exterior inttrior, &Ce., though<br />
derived from Latin comparatives, and inyolving the idea of comparison,<br />
are not considered the comparative degree in English, any more than such<br />
words as preferable, p!'evious, &c. They have neithcr the form nor the<br />
construction of the comparative (963-2.)<br />
IRREGULAR COMPARISON.<br />
220. The follow ing adjectives are compared irregularly,<br />
viz.<br />
Positive.<br />
Good<br />
Bad, evil, O/' ill<br />
Little<br />
Much 01' many<br />
Late<br />
Near<br />
Far<br />
Forth (obsolete)<br />
Fore<br />
Old<br />
Oomparative,<br />
better<br />
worse<br />
less (somctilllcS lesser)<br />
more<br />
later (i ITcgllla r, lattcr)<br />
nearer<br />
farther<br />
further<br />
former<br />
older 01' elder<br />
Superlative.<br />
best<br />
worst<br />
least<br />
most<br />
latest or last<br />
nearest or ncxt<br />
farthest<br />
furthest<br />
foremost or first<br />
ohlcst 01' elucst<br />
221. Afuch, is applied to things weighed or measured; many, to things<br />
that are numbered; more andm08f, to both. Farther and farthest gencr·<br />
ally denote place or distance; as, " The farther they went, the more iutcr'<br />
eating was the scene; further and furthest refer to quantity or addition;<br />
aB, "I have nothing further to say." Older and oldest are applied to<br />
perBons or things, and refer to age or duration; fl', " Homer is an older<br />
poet than Virgil;n .. The pyramid~ are olde-r thall the pantheon." Elder<br />
and eldest (from the obsolete eld) are applied only to persons of the same<br />
family. and denote priority of birth; as, "An elder brother." Later and<br />
latest have respect to time; latter and last to position or order.<br />
222. Some superlatives are formed by annexing most, sometimes to the<br />
comparative, and sometimes to the word from which the comparative is
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