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COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.

71. 1. There are three degrees of Comparison,--the Positive, the
Comparative, and the Superlative.

2. The Comparative is regularly formed by adding -ior (Neut. -ius), and the
Superlative by adding -issimus (-a, -um), to the Stem of the Positive
deprived of its final vowel; as,--

altus, _high_, altior, _higher_, altissimus, _highest_,
_very high_.
fortis, _brave_, fortior, fortissimus.
felix, _fortunate_, felicior, felicissimus.

So also Participles, when used as Adjectives; as,--

doctus, _learned_, doctior, doctissimus.
egens, _needy_, egentior, egentissimus.

3. Adjectives in -er form the Superlative by appending -rimus to the
Nominative of the Positive. The Comparative is regular. Thus:--

asper, _rough_, asperior, asperrimus.
pulcher, _beautiful_, pulchrior, pulcherrimus.
acer, _sharp_, acrior, acerrimus.
celer, _swift_, celerior, celerrimus.

a. Notice maturus, maturior, maturissimus or maturrimus.

4. Five Adjectives in -ilis form the Superlative by adding -limus to the
Stem of the Positive deprived of its final vowel. The Comparative is
regular. Thus:--

facilis, _easy_, facilior, facillimus.
difficilis, _diffcult_, difficilior, difficillimus.
similis, _like_, similior, simillimus.
dissimilis, _unlike_, dissimilior, dissimillimus.
humilis, _low_, humilior, humillimus.

5. Adjectives in -dicus, -ficus, and -volus form the Comparative and
Superlative as though from forms in -dicens, -ficens, -volens. Thus:--

maledicus, _slanderous_, maledicentior, maledicentissimus.
magnificus, _magnificent_, magnificentior, magnificentissimus.
benevolus, _kindly_, benevolentior, benevolentissimus.

a. Positives in -dicens and -volens occur in early Latin; as maledicens,
benevolens.

6. Dives has the Comparative divitior or ditior; Superlative divitissimus
or ditissimus.

Irregular Comparison.

72. Several Adjectives vary the Stem in Comparison; _viz_.--

bonus, _good_, melior, optimus.
malus, _bad_, pejor,