superlativeDefinition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary Jump to: navigation, search WOTD - 11 March 2008 Wikipedia has an article on: SuperlativeNounsuperlative (plural superlatives)
SynonymsRelated termsFrom Wiktionary under the GNU Free Documentation License. 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. Some grammarians object to the use of the superlative or comparative with words such as full, complete, unique, or empty, which by definition already denote either a totality, an absence, or an absolute. However, such words are routinely and frequently qualified in contemporary speech and writing. This type of usage conveys more of a figurative than a literal meaning, since in a strictly literal sense, something cannot be more or less unique or empty to a greater or lesser degree. For example, in the phrase "most complete selection of wines in the Midwest," "most complete" doesn't mean "closest to having all elements represented", it merely connotes a well-rounded, relatively extensive selection. Browsing the Internet with some of the best known search engines for "more complete" or "most complete" establishes the frequency of this usage with millions of examples. Nonetheless, frequency of usage is an extremely debatable criterion for correctness. In formal writing, particularly scientific or legal, incorrect use of superlatives is a grave error. In other languagesFrom Wikipedia under the
GNU Free Documentation License How are comparitive adjectives and adverbs different from superlative adjectives and adverbs? Q. How are comparitive adjectives and adverbs different from superlative adjectives and adverbs? Asked by Tyler R - Thu Jun 4 17:18:28 2009 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments A. Easy. Comparative compares two. Superlative compares three or more. To make a comparative adjective, add -er to the positive form of the adjective. Therefore: big becomes bigger. If you can't add -er, use more/less plus the positive form: handsome becomes more or less handsome. To make the superlative, add -est to the positive form. So... One is tall...he is taller than Bob...BUT John is the tallest of all three. If you can't add -est, use most/least plus the positive. SO: He's the most handsome of all. To use the comparative or superlative with adverbs, use more/less for two items and most/least for three or more: He drove more quickly than Bob. He drove less carefully than Bob. He drove the least carefully. He drove… [cont.] Answered by Bard Teacher - Thu Jun 4 17:26:43 2009 What are some funny superlative award categories for XC? Q. I'm having a party and we're going to have a vote on superlatives (funniest, best hair, cutest smile, etc.) and I need some funny categories, they don't all have to be about running, i would actually prefer them not to be. thx :) Asked by nora <3 - Tue Oct 20 16:35:08 2009 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments A. - best excuse for not running - cutest shorts - best hair style - most improved - most flexible - most injured Answered by Ponies are Pretty - Wed Oct 21 00:03:32 2009 I'm on the Shield Staff at my school and I need Senior Superlative Ideas?
Q. traditional and non-traditional ideas please, funny ones would be great too, but this is for an High School Senior Magazine so it has to be kept clean. Asked by StumpedSenior - Tue Mar 18 08:14:19 2008 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments A. Most likely to be on Broadway. Most likely to win "American Idol". Most likely to be the next Steven Spielberg. Most likely to win a Pulitzer Prize. Most likely to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Most senior superlatives focus on looks, sports or popularity. I encourage you to think outside of the box!! Answered by Jera - Tue Mar 18 15:54:50 2008 From Yahoo Answer Search: "superlative"  watching-tv.ew.com Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:38:50 GMT+00:00 Entertainment Weekly Away and by far the best tv-movie, Temple Grandin featured a superlative performance by Claire Danes in the title role of the real-life woman with autism ...  mediabistro.com Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:10:46 GMT+00:00 mediabistro.com (blog) Thanks to our superlative designers, WeAreGiants (wearegiants.com), the site is just as gorgeous as the print product. Slake is also promising original web ...  nytimes.com Sun, 01 Aug 2010 03:12:44 GMT+00:00 New York Times Mike Carlson/Associated Press In 18 innings across two nights, the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays have engaged in a superlative display of baseball, ... From Google News Search: "superlative" From Yahoo Image Search: "superlative"  shopping-life.org admin Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:56:50 GM Would you ambition to shake hands burberry store the fashionable Gucci handbag? Or maybe the assembly of Loius Vuitton handbags is what you conclusion? tempo concrete is befitting that exceptionally womanliness would itch to admit these ... From Google Blog Search: "superlative" |
