a. and sb. Also 4–5 -yf, 5 -yff, -yfe, 5–6 -yve, 7 -if. [a. OF. superlatif (13th c.) = Pr. superlatiu, It., Sp., Pg. superlativo, ad. late L. superlātīvus, f. superlātus (used as pa. pple. of superferre), f. super- SUPER- II + lāt- (for *tlāt-), pa. ppl. stem of tollĕre to take away.] A. adj.
1. Gram. Applied to that inflexional form of an adjective or adverb used, in comparing a number of things, to express the highest degree of the quality or attribute denoted by the simple word, as sweet-est, tru-est, often-est (or to the periphrasis used in the same sense, as most sweet, most true, most often); the adjective or adverb is then said to be in the superlative degree, and is usually preceded by the definite article. Freq. used allusively.
The English periphrastic form is also frequently used (with the indefinite article), like the inflexional form in Latin and Greek, in an absolute or intensive sense, to express a very high degree of the quality or attribute, without definite comparison with other objects.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 131. Ther nys no thyng in gree superlatyf As seith Senek aboue an humble wyf.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 162. In love among these thre To spekyn aftyr degrees of comparysoun Mary stood in the superlatyue degre.
1530. Palsgr., 71. He standeth for the superlatyve degre.
1575. Gascoigne, Making of Verse, Wks. 1907, I. 466. If I should undertake to wryte in prayse of a gentlewoman, I would … finde some supernaturall cause wherby my penne might walke in the superlative degree.
1636. B. Jonson, Engl. Gram., II. iv. These adverbs, more, and most, are added to the Comparative, and Superlative degrees themselves.
1651. Hobbes, Govt. & Soc., xv. § 14. 249. He … must use such [titles] as are either Negative, as infinite, eternall, incomprehensible, &c., or superlative, as most good, most great, most powerfull.
1657. Trapp, Comm. Ezra v. 8. ‘God of gods, Lord of lords’—yea He is a degree above the superlative.
a. 1667. Cowley, Ess., Of Liberty, Wks. (1906), 383. The Positive Parting with a little bow, the Comparative at the middle of the room, the Superlative at the door.
1824. L. Murray, Engl. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 250. Adjectives that have in themselves a superlative signification, do not properly admit of the superlative or comparative form … such as, ‘Chief, extreme, perfect.’
1886. Kington Oliphant, New Engl., I. 165. The Superlative Adverb gladlyest. Ibid., II. 189. [Miss Burney] is fond of the French idiom that places the Superlative Adjective after the Substantive; as ‘a facility the most happy.’
1910. J. W. Harper, Soc. Ideal, xiii. § 3. 150. Liberty is the positive, equality the comparative, and brotherhood the superlative agency of social progress.
b. Exaggerative, hyperbolical. (Cf. B. 1 b.)
1588. Fraunce, Lawiers Logike, Ded. To disgrace the one, or advance the other in comparison wise, by superlative woordes, and hyperbolicall amplifications.
1828. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. III. (1863), 7. To all who knew Nelly’s opinion of her own doings, this praise appeared superlative.
1906. Churchill, Sp. Ho. Comm., 21 March. I hope I shall not be drawn … into imitating … the protracted, superlative, and, I think, rather laboured exhibition with which he has occupied the attention of the House.
2. Raised above or surpassing all others; extremely high, great or excellent; supereminent, supreme. a. Of persons and material things.
c. 1410. Hoccleve, Mother of God, 9. Modir of mercy,… Þat of al vertu art superlatyf.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., cxcvii. Gowere and chaucere,… Superlatiue as poetis laureate.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 123. The viij. leches … whiche were all .viij. superlatyff aboue all other lechis.
1592. Nashe, Strange Newes, I iv. Betweene you and me declare … whether you be not a superlatiue blocke, for al you readd the Philosophie Lecture at Cambridge.
a. 1628. F. Grevil, Life of Sidney (1652), 75. A Peer of this Realme,… superlative in the Princes favour.
1630. Dekker, 2nd Pt. Honest Wh., Wks. 1873, II. 170. O euerlasting, supernaturall superlatiue Villaine!
1657. North’s Plutarch, Add. Lives (1676), 18. Natural Philosophy, wherein Aristotle was so superlative.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 105. He … allows Newcastle Ale and Salmon to be the most superlative Diet in the Universe.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xxxiv. You are the demdest, knowing hand,… the cunningest, rummest, superlativest, old fox.
1868. Stanley, Westm. Abbey, iii. 124. Its Chapter House, its ornaments … were to be superlative of their kind.
b. Of immaterial things, actions, qualities, etc.
c. 1550. Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 760. Thay … Ponderat weill the falt superlatiue.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 256. Queene Elizabeth,… worthy of superlative praise.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Viciss. Things. Superlatiue and Admirable Holinesse of Life.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lii. (1739), 93. Reason of State, which as the times then were, was evident and superlative.
1665. Wither, Lord’s Prayer, Preamb. This superlative Form of Prayer.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., III. 115. Thy state … Gain’d, like thine arms, superlative applause.
1798. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 27. Miss Archer’s advice she treated with superlative contempt.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 189. This religious mission he … carried out to the best of his superlative ability.
B. sb.
1. Gram. The superlative degree; an adjective or adverb in the superlative degree.
Also, by extension, applied to any word denoting the highest degree of some quality (quot. 1802).
1530. Palsgr., Introd. p. xxviii. We and the latines forme our comparatives and superlatyves out of our posytives.
1567. Sanders, Rocke Ch., ii. 31. According to the Greeke phrase (where the comparative standeth for the Superlatiue).
1638. R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 220. I will now at the end of my letter, add a superlative, and say I am Sir yr most humble, most faithful.
a. 1721. Prior, Dial. Dead, Charles & Clenard (1907), 218. Your very Titles, Your Serenissimus and Augustissimus are superlatives created by the Power of us Grammarians.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xxiv. ‘Omnipotence,’ ‘omniscience,’ ‘infinite’ power, ‘infinite’ knowledge, are superlatives; expressing our conception of these attributes in the … most elevated terms.
1824. L. Murray, Engl. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 350. Double comparatives and superlatives should be avoided: such as, ‘A worser conduct;’… ‘The most straitest sect.’
1886. Kington Oliphant, New Engl., II. 43. There is the old superlative of the Adverb, ‘the rudeliest welcomed.’
1892. L. Kellner, Hist. Outl. Eng. Syntax, § 255, heading. The Comparative and Superlative used absolutely.
fig. 1583. Greene, Mamillia, Wks. (Grosart), II. 47. Virginity you say is delightful, yet matrimony more pleasant: Virginity you put in the positiue, but matrimonie in the superlatiue.
1725. Watts, Logic, II. iii. iii. § 6. Some Persons have a violent and turgid Manner both of Talking and Thinking…. They … pronounce concerning every thing in the Superlative.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Truth, Wks. (Bohn), II. 53. An Englishman … avoids the superlative, checks himself in compliments.
b. transf. An exaggerated or hyperbolical expression; usually pl., exaggerated language or phraseology.
1597. Drayton, Heroic. Ep., x. 64. His birth from heauen thy Tudor not deriues, Nor stands on typ-toes in superlatiues.
1597. Bp. Hall, Sat., I. Prol. 12. [He] Hath made his pen an hyred Parasite, To … pranck base men in Proud Superlatiues.
1697. Dryden, Virgil, Life (1721), I. 45. Nor were they under the constraint … of violent Superlatives at the close of their Letter.
1896. Fam. & Pers. Mem. Ld. Selborne, I. ix. 137. He thought and felt in superlatives.
2. A person or thing surpassing all others of the class or kind; one who or a thing which is supereminent or supreme; the highest example (of a quality). Now rare, and with allusion to sense 1.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 359. Amongst the most famous preachers in Rome … three were … all superlatiues in a different kind.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1688), IV. 433. This … is the best of all, and may be called the Superlatif of the three.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scandal, To Mrs. Crewe, 38. Nature’s best and heaven’s superlative.
1885. W. F. Crafts, Sabbath for Man (1894), 188. The so-called Christians who sanction these Sunday parties are the superlatives of hypocrisy.
1903. Westm. Gaz., 17 Sept., 5/2. I sell bread here made from best ‘London whites’ and ‘superlatives’ at 6d. per loaf.
3. The highest or utmost degree of something; the height, acme. Usually with allusion to sense 1.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, Ff ij. The prince of whome I speake, is in the Positiue degree of her Superlatiue.
1589. Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, I. vii. (Arb.), 29. Monasticall men then raigning al in their superlatiue.
1623. Massinger, Dk. Milan, III. iii. Dearest lady…. Make a superlative of excellence In being greatest in your saving mercy.
1653. R. Sanders, Physiogn. Moles, 4. The superlative of his good fortunes shall be in Merchandizing.
a. 1687. Waller, On Divine Poesy, I. 24. What mortal can with heav’n pretend to share In the superlatives of wise, and fair?
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. ix. So many highest superlatives achieved by man are followed by new higher; and dwindle into comparatives and positives!
