Defective Comparatives and Superlatives

Positive-Defective Comparative Adjectives

Summary of Defection

Ordinary adjectives have a positive, comparative and superlative form

The following comparative and superlative forms either (a) have no positive form, (b) have a preposition as their positive form, (c) have an adverb as their positive form or (d) have only very rare positive adjectives

Comparatives With No Positives

• — / ōcior, -ius / ōcissimus, -a, -um : — / swifter / swiftest
• — / potior, -ius / potissimus, -, um : — / preferred / most preferred

Comparatives with Adverbial Positives

• cis, citrā / citerior, -ius / citimus, -a, -um : on this side / hither / histermost
• prope / proprior, -ius / proximus, -a, um : near / nearer / nearest, next
• ultrā / ulterior, -ius / ultimus, -a, -um : beyond / farther / farthest

Comparatives with Prepositional Positives

• dē / dēterior, -ius / dēterrimus, -a, -um : down / worse / worse (n.b. not more down)
• in, intrā / interior, -ius / intimus, -a, -um : in, within / inner / inmost
• prae, prō / prior, -ius / prīmus, -a, -um : before / former / first

Comparatives with Rare Positives

• exterus, -a, -um / exterior, -ius / extrēmus, -a, -um : outward / outer / outmost
• īnferus, -a, -um / īnferior, -ius / īnfimus (-īmus), -a, -um : below / lower / lowest
• posterus, -a, -um / posterior, -ius / postrēmus (postumus), -a, -um : following / later / last (last-born)
• superus, -a, um / superior, -ius / suprēmus (summus), -a, -um : above / higher /highest

Positives in this category, where they appear, are substantives. The īnferī are the gods the underworld, extrēmī are foreigners and Postumus is a common surname.

Essential AG: 130, 130a-b

Famous Phrase: videō meliōra probōque / dēteriōra sequor 

(I see and approve the better, but follow the worse) [Ovid, Metamorphoses, 7.20-1]

positive_defect_comparatives_summary.pdf

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