superlative adjective

Superlative adjectives are adjectives that describe the attribute of a person or thing that is the highest (or lowest) in degree compared to the members of the noun’s group. Superlative adjectives are similar to comparative adjectives, except they express the most extreme degree of comparison, and they are only used when talking about groups of three or more people or things.

su·per·la·tive

(so͝o-pûr′lə-tĭv)

adj.

1. Of the highest order, quality, or degree; surpassing or superior to all others.

2. Excessive or exaggerated.

3. Grammar Of, relating to, or being the extreme degree of comparison of an adjective or adverb, as in best or brightest.

1. Something of the highest possible excellence.

2. The highest degree; the acme.

3. Grammar

a. The superlative degree.

b. An adjective or adverb expressing the superlative degree, as in brightest, the superlative of the adjective bright, or most brightly, the superlative of the adverb brightly.

[Middle English superlatif, from Old French, from Late Latin superlātīvus, from Latin superlātus, past participle of superferre, to carry over a person or thing, exaggerate : super-, super- + lātus, past participle of ferre, to carry; see telə- in Indo-European roots.]

su·per′la·tive·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

superlative

(suːˈpɜːlətɪv)

adj

1. of outstanding quality, degree, etc; supreme

2. (Grammar) grammar denoting the form of an adjective or adverb that expresses the highest or a very high degree of quality. In English the superlative degree is usually marked by the suffix -est or the word most, as in loudest or most loudly. Compare positive¹⁰, comparative³

3. (of language or style) excessive; exaggerated

4. a thing that excels all others or is of the highest quality

5. (Grammar) grammar the superlative form of an adjective

6. the highest degree; peak

[C14: from Old French superlatif, via Late Latin from Latin superlātus extravagant, from superferre to carry beyond, from super- + ferre to bear]

suˈperlatively adv

suˈperlativeness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

su•per•la•tive

(səˈpɜr lə tɪv, sʊ-)

adj.

1. of the highest kind or order.

2. of or designating the highest degree of comparison of adjectives and adverbs, used to show the extreme or greatest in quality, quantity, or intensity, as in smallest, best, and most carefully, the superlative forms of small, good, and carefully. Compare comparative (def. 4), positive (def. 22).

3. a superlative person or thing.

4. the utmost degree; acme.

a. the superlative degree.

b. the superlative form of an adjective or adverb.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Old French < Late Latin superlātīvus= Latin superlāt(us), past participle of superferre to carry over, to a higher degree (super- super- + ferre to bear¹) + -īvus -ive]

su•per′la•tive•ly, adv.

su•per′la•tive•ness, n.

Positive, comparative, superlative, - Positive is the ordinary form of a word, with comparative conveying a sense of greater intensity of the adjective and superlative reflecting the greatest intensity of the adjective.

superlative

Used to describe an adjective or adverb expressing the highest degree of comparison, for example, “brightest” or most brightly.”

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	superlative - an exaggerated expression (usually of praise); "the critics lavished superlatives on it" congratulations, extolment, kudos, praise - an expression of approval and commendation; "he always appreciated praise for his work" best - (superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities; "the best film of the year"; "the best solution"; "the best time for planting"; "wore his best suit" worst - (superlative of `bad') most wanting in quality or value or condition; "the worst player on the team"; "the worst weather of the year" most - the superlative of `much' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by `the'; a quantifier meaning the greatest in amount or extent or degree; "made the most money he could"; "what attracts the most attention?"; "made the most of a bad deal" least - the superlative of `little' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by `the'; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree; "didn't care the least bit"; "he has the least talent of anyone" most - (superlative of `many' used with count nouns and often preceded by `the') quantifier meaning the greatest in number; "who has the most apples?"; "most people like eggs"; "most fishes have fins" fewest - (superlative of `few' used with count nouns and usually preceded by `the') quantifier meaning the smallest in number; "the fewest birds in recent memory" closest, nearest, nighest - (superlative of `near' or `close') within the shortest distance; "that was the time he came nearest to death"
	2.	superlative - the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development; "his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty"; "the artist's gifts are at their acme"; "at the height of her career"; "the peak of perfection"; "summer was at its peak"; "...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame"; "the summit of his ambition"; "so many highest superlatives achieved by man"; "at the top of his profession" acme, meridian, summit, tiptop, pinnacle, elevation, height, peak, top degree, stage, level, point - a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process; "a remarkable degree of frankness"; "at what stage are the social sciences?"
	3.	superlative - the superlative form of an adjective or adverb; "`fastest' is the superlative of the adjective `fast'"; "`least famous' is the superlative degree of the adjective `famous'"; "`most surely' is the superlative of the adverb `surely'" superlative degree adjective - a word that expresses an attribute of something adverb - a word that modifies something other than a noun
Adj.	1.	superlative - highest in quality greatest, sterling superior - of high or superior quality or performance; "superior wisdom derived from experience"; "superior math students"

superlative

adjective supreme, excellent, outstanding, highest, greatest, crack (slang), magnificent, surpassing, consummate, stellar (informal), unparalleled, transcendent, unrivalled, peerless, unsurpassed, matchless, of the highest order, of the first water Some superlative wines are made in this region.
poor, average, ordinary, inferior, appalling, dreadful, rotten, abysmal, run-of-the-mill, undistinguished, uninspired, unspectacular, unexceptional, easily outclassed

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

superlative

adjective

Surpassing all others in quality:

best, optimal, optimum, unsurpassed.

Translations

أفْعَل التَّفْضيلدَرجَة التَّفْضيل بين الصِّفات

superlativsuperlativní

superlativhøjeste grad

Superlativ

υπερθετικός

superlativo supremo

erinomainenhäikäisevähuippusuperlatiivisuperlatiivinen

superlatif suprême

superlativ

felsõfokfelsõfokú

efsta stigefsta stig, hástighástigs-

superlativo

vispārākā pakāpevispārāks

overtreffende trap

superlativ høyeste grad

superlativo supremo

superlatívsuperlatívny

presežnik

superlativ

üstünlüküstünlük derecesi

最高级最高级的

superlative

[sʊˈpɜːlətɪv]

A. ADJ

1. (= outstanding) → excepcional
superlative wines → vinos de excepcional calidad

2. (Gram) → superlativo m

B. N

1. (Gram) → superlativo m
in the superlative → en el superlativo

2. (fig) the critics were reaching for superlatives → los críticos se deshacían en elogios
he tends to talk in superlatives → tiende a hablar en términos muy elogiosos de todo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

superlative

[suːˈpɜː^rlətɪv]

adj

(= excellent) [performance, wine, view, achievement, quality] → sans pareil(le)

(LINGUISTICS) [form] → superlatif/ive

n (LINGUISTICS) → superlatif m
in the superlative → au superlatif

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

superlative

adj (= excellent) → überragend, unübertrefflich; happiness → größte(r, s), höchste(r, s); indifference → höchste(r, s); (Gram) → superlativisch, im Superlativ; (= exaggerated) style → überschwänglich

n → Superlativ m; to speak in superlatives → zu Superlativen greifen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

superlative

[suˈpɜːlətɪv]

1. adj (superb, quality, achievement) → eccellente; (indifference) → sommo/a (Gram) → superlativo

2. n (Gram) → superlativo
to talk in superlatives → fare largo uso di superlativi nel parlare

superlative

(suˈpəːlətiv) adjective

(of an adjective or adverb) of the highest degree of comparison. `Biggest' is a superlative adjective.

noun

(an adjective or adverb of) the superlative degree. `Best' and `worst' are the superlatives of `good' and `bad'; She is the prettiest girl in the room; We'll go by different roads to see who will arrive (the) soonest / most quickly.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

I know not with what fine and costly material the heidelburgh Tun was coated within, but in superlative richness that coating could not possibly have compared with the silken pearl-colored membrane, like the line of a fine pelisse, forming the inner surface of the Sperm Whale's case.

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It had, indeed, in a superlative degree, the two principal ingredients which serve to recommend all great and noble designs of this nature; for it required an immoderate expense to execute, and a vast length of time to bring it to any sort of perfection.

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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

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But a man raised from the station of a private citizen to the rank of chief magistrate, possessed of a moderate or slender fortune, and looking forward to a period not very remote when he may probably be obliged to return to the station from which he was taken, might sometimes be under temptations to sacrifice his duty to his interest, which it would require superlative virtue to withstand.

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With his father, the superlative degree returned infallibly.

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For martyrdoms, I reckon them amongst miracles; because they seem to exceed the strength of human nature: and I may do the like, of superlative and admirable holiness of life.

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Throughout the infinite variety of this book, this fundamental is most strictly adhered to; there is not a wicked action in any part of it, but is first and last rendered unhappy and unfortunate; there is not a superlative villain brought upon the stage, but either he is brought to an unhappy end, or brought to be a penitent; there is not an ill thing mentioned but it is condemned, even in the relation, nor a virtuous, just thing but it carries its praise along with it.

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He is always in extremes, perpetually in the superlative degree.

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This genius Marheyo possessed in a superlative degree, as he abundantly evinced by the use to which he put those sorely bruised and battered old shoes.

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Now, it seems to be a law of nature that we must show our true selves at some time, and as the Scot must do it at home, and squeeze a day into an hour, what follows is that there he is self-revealing in the superlative degree, the feelings so long dammed up overflow, and thus a Scotch family are probably better acquainted with each other, and more ignorant of the life outside their circle, than any other family in the world.

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The person who screams, or uses the superlative degree, or converses with heat, puts whole drawing-rooms to flight.

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The group dispersed, as if in great surprise, and the gentleman addressed, turning round, exhibited a suit of clothes of the most superlative cut, a pair of whiskers of similar quality, a moustache, a head of hair, and a young face.

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