Adjective as Adverbs

Certain adjectives, although modifying the noun within a sentence, in effect modify the verb as well.

• He was the first to arrive: prīmus vēnit.
• I in no way doubt: nūlla dubitō.
• They were glad to hear: laetae audiērunt.
• He was often at Rome: Rōmae frequēns erat.
• She arrived late: sēra vēnit.

The Essential AG: 290

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Ordinal Numerals

There are four central aspects to the Latin numeral:

• The cardinal: ūnus, duo, trēs, quattuor
• The ordinal: prīmus, secundus, tertius, quārtus
• The distributive: singulī, bīnī, ternī, quaternī
• The adverb: semel, bis, ter, quater

Ordinals are derived from cardinals, and operate as declining adjectives, in the manner of bonus, -a, -um

• The suffixes attached to cardinals are often very similar to superlative suffixes (e.g. ūndēvīcēnsimus, 19th)

The Ordinals 1st-10th

• 1st: prīmus, -a, -um
• 2nd: secundus, -a, -um or alter, altera, alterum (remember alterīus is the genitive for all genders)
• 3rd: tertius, -a, -um
• 4th: quārtus, -a, -um
• 5th: quīntus, -a, -um
• 6th: sextus, -a, -um
• 7th: septimus, -a, -um
• 8th: octāvus, -a, -um
• 9th: nōnus, -a, -um
• 10th: decimus, -a, -um

A few fun notes on these:

• The cardinal prīmus is an archaic superlative from prō
• The cardinal secundus is exactly what it appears to be—the future passive participle of sequor (to follow)
• The cardinal alter is a comparative form (like with the Greek -τερος)
• The cardinal nōnus is a contraction of novenus

Cardinals 11th-19th

• 11th: ūndecimus, -a, -um
• 12th: duodecimus, -a, -um
• 13th: tertius, -a, -um decimus, -a, -um or decimus et tertius or decimus tertius
• (thus, both words decline and have three double-declining variations with 14th-19th)
• 14th: quārtus decimus
• 15th: quīntus decimus
• 16th: sextus decimus
• 17th: septimus decimus
• 18th: duodēvicēnsimus, -a, -um or octāvus decimus, etc.
• 19th: ūndēvicēnsimus, -a, -um or nōnus decimus, etc.

Cardinals 20th-100th

• 20th: vīcēnsimus, -a, -um
• 21st: vīcēnsimus, -a, um prīmus, -a, -um or ūnus et vīcēnsimus 
• (thus, we have two distinct options from 11th – 19th, with (a) cardinal tens -> cardinal ones reversed or (b) ordinal ones -> cardinal tens; both terms will decline, where possible, for all cardinals 22nd-99th)
• 28th: duodētrīcēnsimus, -a, -um or the other two options
• 29th: ūndētrīcēnsimus, -a, -um
• 30th: trīcēnsimus, -a, -um
• 40th: quadrāgēnsimus, -a, -um
• 50th: quīnquāgēnsimus, -a, -um
• 60th: sexāgēnsimus, -a, -um
• 70th: septuāgensimus, -a, -um
• 80th: octōgēnsimus, -a, -um
• 90th: nōnāgēnsimus, -a, -um
• 100th: cēntēnsimus, -a, -um

A few fun notes on these:

• Again, note the distinct sets of options for the 11th-19th crowd and the 21st+ crowd: with 21st+, you get a mix of ordinals and cardinals, which can only lead to a really bad hangover…
• Whitaker’s Words suggests ūnetvīcēnsimus, -a, -um is an alternative form of 21st, though that may be Medieval only
• A few only sources suggest that the (n) in the 40th/50th/etc. is optional: quadrāgē(n)simus, -a, -um, though I should note that A&G don’t mention this

Ordinals 101st -1000th

• 101st: centēnsimus, -a, -um prīmus, -a, -um or ūnus et centēnsimus
• 113th: centēnsimus et tertius decimus or centēnsimus et decimus tertius
• (basically, we have a pattern very similar to 21st-99th, though recall that once we have three words in play, that et will only appears between the two highest denominations, so you will never see centēnsimus et decimus et tertius)
• (also, to be explicit, everything continues to decline, where possible)
• 200th: ducentēnsimus, -a, -um
• 300th: trecentēnsimus, -a, -um
• 400th: quadrigentēnsimus-, -a, -um
• 500th: quīngentēnsimus, -a, -um
• 600th: sescentēnsimus, -a, -um
• 700th: septigentēnsimus, -a, -um
• 800th: octigentēnsimus, -a, -um
• 900th: nōngentēnsimus, -a, -um
• 1000th: mīllēnsimus, -a, -um

I’ll get to the 1000+ crowd eventually, though it involves multiplicative forms, so brace yourself.

The Essential AG: 133

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