Superlative — Su per*la tive, a. [L. superlativus, fr. superlatus excessive, used as p. p. of superiorferre, but from a different root: cf. F. superlatif. See {Elate}, {Tolerate}.] 1. Lifted up to the highest degree; most eminent; surpassing all other;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
superlative — [sə pʉr′lə tiv, so͞opʉr′lə tiv] adj. [ME < MFr superlatif < LL superlativus < L superlatus, excessive < super , above, beyond + latus, pp. of ferre, to BEAR1] 1. superior to or excelling all other or others; of the highest kind,… … English World dictionary
superlative — (adj.) late 14c., from O.Fr. superlatif (13c.), from L.L. superlativus exaggerated, superlative, from L. superlatus exaggerated (used as pp. of superferre carry over or beyond ), from super beyond (see SUPER (Cf. super )) + lat carry, from *tlat … Etymology dictionary
superlative — I adjective best, champion, chief, consummate, crowning, excellent, excessive, eximius, extreme, first rate, foremost, greatest, highest, immoderate, incomparable, inflated, inimitable, matchless, most eminent, nonpareil, optimus, paramount,… … Law dictionary
superlative — adj *supreme, transcendent, surpassing, peerless, incomparable, preeminent Analogous words: *consummate, finished, accomplished: *splendid, glorious, sublime, superb … New Dictionary of Synonyms
superlative — [adj] excellent, first class A 1*, accomplished, all time*, best, capital, consummate, crack, effusive, exaggerated, excessive, extreme, finished, gilt edge*, greatest, highest, hundred proof*, inflated, magnificent, matchless, of highest order* … New thesaurus
superlative — ► ADJECTIVE 1) of the highest quality or degree. 2) Grammar (of an adjective or adverb) expressing the highest or a very high degree of a quality (e.g. bravest, most fiercely). Contrasted with POSITIVE(Cf. ↑positivity) and COMPARATIVE(Cf.… … English terms dictionary
Superlative — In grammar the superlative of an adjective or adverb is the greatest form of adjective or adverb which indicates that something has some feature to a greater degree than anything it is being compared to in a given context. For example, if Adam is … Wikipedia
superlative — su|per|la|tive1 [su:ˈpə:lətıv, sju: US suˈpə:r ] adj [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: superlatif, from Late Latin superlativus, from Latin superlatus, past participle of superferre to carry above, raise high ] 1.) excellent ▪ a superlative … Dictionary of contemporary English
superlative — 1 adjective 1 excellent: a superlative performance 2 a superlative adjective or adverb expresses the highest degree of a particular quality: The superlative form of good is best . compare comparative 1 (4) 2 noun 1 the superlative the superlative … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
