superlative

From Middle English superlatyf, from Old French superlatif, from Late Latin superlātīvus, from Latin superlātus (“carried above, over; extravagant, of hyperbole”), past participle of superfero (“carry over”), from super (“above”) + fero (“bear, carry”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /suːˈpɜː.lə.tɪv/, /sjuːˈpɜː.lə.tɪv/
• (US) IPA^(key): /suˈpɝː.lə.tɪv/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (General Australian):

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• Audio (UK):

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superlative (not comparable)

1. (literally) Having the power to carry something or someone above, over or beyond others.^[1]
2. (figuratively) Exceptionally good; of the highest quality.

   Synonyms: above and beyond, exceptional, fabulous, extraordinary, superb

   • 1894, Alexander Begg, History of British Columbia, page 509:

     The Governor-General was entertaining at a civil banquet in the evening. He is reported as having made a “superlative speech, congratulating the Victorians on their loyalty; […] .”

3. (grammar) Of or relating to the superlative degree (a degree of comparison of adjectives and adverbs).

The first two senses are rather formal, reflecting their Latin etymology.

superlative (plural superlatives)

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

   Synonyms: acme, apex, height, peak, zenith

   • 1966, Sidney John Baker, The Australian language:

     A twist is accordingly something especially good, and a big twist is the superlative of excellence.

2. (grammar) The degree of comparison of an adjective or adverb used when comparing three or more entities in terms of a certain property or a certain way of doing something. In English, the superlative of superiority is formed by adding the suffix -est or the word most (e.g. tiniest, most fully); the superlative of inferiority, by adding the word least (e.g. least big, least fully).

   Synonym: superlative degree

   Hypernym: degree of comparison

   Hyponyms: superlative of superiority, superlative of inferiority

   Coordinate terms: positive, comparative

3. (grammar) An adjective or adverb in the superlative degree.

   Daniel is amazing, wonderful, fantastic, and many other superlatives I can’t think of right now!

   • 2019 May 1, Daniel Taylor, The Guardian‎^[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?

• absolute
• comparative
• elative

superlative

1. feminine singular of superlatif

superlative

1. feminine plural of superlativo

superlātīve

1. vocative masculine singular of superlātīvus