Chapter 27

RULE 1: Adjective bases ending in -l- and -r- form superlatives ending in -limus and -rimus, respectively.

I. Grammar

This is largely a chapter of memorization: (1) two rules for forming "irregular" superlatives; and (2) seven adjectives which exhibit "irregular" comparison. Review with the students the forms introduced here and as much as possible leave the memorizing to them. Concentrate, instead, on preparing them for the test which follows this chapter. With that in mind, be sure to allot plenty of time for the sentences in this chapter, since they encompass the best review of the constructions which the students will see on the test. If you didn't have time for the review sheet in the last chapter, this is another opportunity to go over it. Click here for that worksheet.

There is one especially important irregularity to call to the students' attention in Chapter 27. The singular of plus operates as a (neuter) noun and takes a partitive genitive after it (cf. satis); conversely, the plural (plures/plura) functions as an adjective.

A. The History of "Irregular" Comparison in Latin

The superlatives ending -limus and -rimus are the product of a regular assimilation of consonants: adjective base ending -l + (?)-semo- > -limus, cf. vel-se > velle; and adjective base ending -r + (?)-semo- > -rimus, cf. fer-se > ferre.

• bonus: As with most "irregular" comparisons, bonus, melior, and optimus represents a composite comparison, a single system formed from the union of originally unrelated words. English good, better, and best is another example of composite comparison, in which the *bat- stem underlying better and best is related to an Old English word bôt ("remedy, compensation") which renders also boot in the sense "profit" (cf. booty). The original base of melior is uncertain, but optimus is reconstructed as ob- (the preposition in the sense "in front, before") + -timus (the superlative suffix seen also in in-timus, ul-timus, originally denoting extremeness).
• magnus: The base is *mag- to which -n- has been added in the positive form of the adjective. This -n- is a common adjective suffix, seen also in dig-nus and ple-nus; cf. also Greek dei-nos (from the dei- base meaning "fear") and sem-nos (from the sem- base meaning "revere"). The comparative maior/maius loses the -n- suffix and is simply the product of mag- + -ios (see Chapter 26). Note that in Latin -gi- and -di- become consonantal -i- (=j), cf. Iovis from early Latin Diovis. Maximus = *mag- + *-semos (or *-temos).
• malus: This represents another composite comparison utilizing two different adjective stems: mal- and ped-. Peior = ped- + *-ios (see magis above); pessimus = ped- + *-semos (or *-temos). The origin of the ped- base is uncertain.
• multus: Yet another composite comparison, in this case of the mult- and the pl(e)- stems. The pl(e)- stem is associated with the ple- verb base meaning "fill" (cf. pleo, plenus; Greek pleo, polus). It is tempting, however, to see contamination from the pl- base meaning "fold, make many" (cf. plico, duplex, multiplex), cognate by Grimm's Law to English fold. The -us ending of the comparative plus may have been borrowed from minus which is not a comparative in origin at all (see parvus below). The plural is regular: *ple-ios-es > pleores (by rhotacism) > plures (by analogy to plus). Likewise, *ple- + -is- + -(s)ema > archaic plisima (attested in the Carmen Saliare) > plirim- (by rhotacism) > plurim- (by analogy to plus).
• parvus: Parvus has a suffix, -v-, seen also in salvus ("safe"), clivus ("slope") and arvum ("field"). The base par- without the suffix can be seen in parum(per). The comparative minor/minus is not a comparative in origin but a simple adjective, minu- + -s, from the same stem which produces the verb minuo ("lessen"). The comparative sense derives from the meaning of the stem. As often happens with correlative pairs or opposites, minus influenced plus by adding a -u-, creating dual forms linked by meaning and form. The superlative adds the suffix *-mo- to the min(u)- base.
• prae/pro: Originally, primus = *pris- + the superlative suffix *-mo- The -s- in *pris- is lost through a process which deletes -s- before voiced consonants, e.g. *is-dem, *quis-dam.
• superus: Syncope, the loss of a short vowel/syllable in an unstressed position (cf. English gen'ral, ev'ry), often does not take place in Latin when the syllable following is short, hence superus and superior but supremus. For summus, see Chapter 26.

II. Vocabulary

• sol: Cognate with English sun and Greek helios, sol derives from the Indo-European base *savol or *savel. For loss of intervocalic w (v in Latin), compare Mars which comes originally from Mavors.
• acer: This adjective contracts (base = acr-). Note the special feminine form acris.
• facilis: Meaning literally, "do-able," facilis has the widely attested adjective suffix -il- ("able"), cf. habilis, gracilis, similis.
• pulcher: This adjective contracts to pulchr- (see Chapter 5). The unusual -ch- has an interesting history. In Plautus' day, as many Greek words were infiltrating Rome, aspirated letters (phi, chi, theta) were written and pronounced in their unaspirated form (pi, kappa, tau). But shortly after 150 BCE it became a mark of refined speech to reintroduce aspirates. This vogue went so far as to aspirate some native Latin words not of Greek origin. Cicero grumbles that he follows this practice against his better judgment and retains the non-native aspiration seen in some basic Latin words, such as pulcher and triumphus (Orator 48.160). Quintilian also mentions over-asperation in the case of chorona, praecho and chenturio (Inst. 1.5.20).
• sapiens: The metaphor behind this word equates erudition with taste. It finds a counterpart in the English expression "tasteful," meaning "appreciating what is beautiful and decorous," implying the wisdom which comes of having sampled things widely and thus recognizing the best of fine literature, philosophy, or other arts and sciences.
• similis: This adjectives comes from the Indo-European stem *sem-/*som-. The same base appears in semper, semel, simul, as well as Greek heis and English same (see Chapter 3). Sim-ilis is equivalent in formation to Greek hom-alos ("level").
• appello: = ad- + pello, literally "push toward," hence "accost, sue" and later "call by name."
• felix: Originally an agricultural term, felix was later extended in meaning; see Chapter 25 (s.v. puto). The base fe- comes from a root meaning "suckle," cf. femina "one giving suckle" (see Chapter 16) and fecundus "abounding in fertility." Felix in its basic agricultural sense carried a connotation of "fruit-bearing, fertile." Later, its meaning was extended to "favored by the gods, auspicious, lucky, happy, favorable."

III. Sentences

Practice and Review

1. Note quam + superlative

8. Ask students how quam pessimus would be expressed if it were an ablative of comparison.

IV. Review for Test 1