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superlative

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su⋅per⋅la⋅tive

  [suh-pur-luh-tiv, soo-]
Use superlative in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of the highest kind, quality, or order; surpassing all else or others; supreme; extreme: superlative wisdom.
2. Grammar. of, pertaining to, or noting the highest degree of the comparison of adjectives and adverbs, as smallest, best, and most carefully, the superlative forms of small, good, and carefully. Compare comparative (def. 4), positive (def. 20).
3. being more than is proper or normal; exaggerated in language or style.
–noun
4. a superlative person or thing.
5. the utmost degree; acme.
6. Grammar.
a. the superlative degree.
b. a form in the superlative.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < LL superlātīvus, equiv. to L superlāt(us) hyperbolical (super- super- + -lātus, suppletive ptp. of ferre to bear 1 ) + -īvus -ive; r. ME superlatif < OF < LL, as above

Related forms:
su⋅per⋅la⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
su⋅per⋅la⋅tive⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. surpassing, excellent, magnificent, preeminent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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su·per·la·tive   (sŏŏ-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.

n.  

  1. Something of the highest possible excellence.

  2. The highest degree; the acme.

  3. Grammar

    1. The superlative degree.

    2. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

superlative

The form of an adjective indicating the greatest degree of the quality that the adjective describes. Best is the superlative form of good; fastest is the superlative form of fast; most charming is the superlative form of charming. The usual superlative takes the ending -est. (Compare comparative.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

superlative  (adj.)
c.1386, 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-) + lat- "carry," from *tlat-, pp. stem of tollere "to take away" (see extol). The noun is attested from 1530, originally in the grammatical sense.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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