COMPARISON.
155. Comparison is an inflection not possessed by nouns and pronouns: it belongs to adjectives and adverbs.
Meaning of comparison.
When we place two objects side by side, we notice some differences between them as to size, weight, color, etc. Thus, it is said that a cow is larger than a sheep, gold is heavier than iron, a sapphire is bluer than the sky. All these have certain qualities; and when we compare the objects, we do so by means of their qualities,—cow and sheep by the quality of largeness, or size; gold and iron by the quality of heaviness, or weight, etc.,—but not the same degree, or amount, of the quality.
The degrees belong to any beings or ideas that may be known or conceived of as possessing quality; as, "untamed thought, great, giant-like, enormous;" "the commonest speech;" "It is a nobler valor;" "the largest soul."
Also words of quantity may be compared: for example, "more matter, with less wit;" "no fewer than a hundred."
Words that cannot be compared.
156. There are some descriptive words whose meaning is such as not to admit of comparison; for example,—
His company became very agreeable to the brave old professor of arms, whose favorite pupil he was.—Thackeray.
A main difference betwixt men is, whether they attend their own affair or not.—Emerson
It was his business to administer the law in its final and closest application to the offender—Hawthorne.
Freedom is a perpetual, organic, universal institution, in harmony with the Constitution of the United States.—Seward.
So with the words sole, sufficient, infinite, immemorial, indefatigable, indomitable, supreme, and many others.
It is true that words of comparison are sometimes prefixed to them, but, strictly considered, they are not compared.
Definition.
157. Comparison means the changes that words undergo to express degrees in quality, or amounts in quantity.
The two forms.
158. There are two forms for this inflection: the comparative, expressing a greater degree of quality; and the superlative, expressing the greatest degree of quality.
These are called degrees of comparison.
These are properly the only degrees, though the simple, uninflected form is usually called the positive degree.
159. The comparative is formed by adding -er, and the superlative by adding -est, to the simple form; as, red, redder, reddest; blue, bluer, bluest; easy, easier, easiest.
Substitute for inflection in comparison.
160. Side by side with these inflected forms are found comparative and superlative expressions making use of the adverbs more and most. These are often useful as alternative with the inflected forms, but in most cases are used before adjectives that are never inflected.
They came into use about the thirteenth century, but were not common until a century later.
Which rule,— -er and -est or more and most?
161. The English is somewhat capricious in choosing between the inflected forms and those with more and most, so that no inflexible rule can be given as to the formation of the comparative and the superlative.
The general rule is, that monosyllables and easily pronounced words of two syllables add -er and -est; and other words are preceded by more and most.
But room must be left in such a rule for pleasantness of sound and for variety of expression.
To see how literary English overrides any rule that could be given, examine the following taken at random:—
From Thackeray: "The handsomest wives;" "the immensest quantity of thrashing;" "the wonderfulest little shoes;" "more odd, strange, and yet familiar;" "more austere and holy."
From Ruskin: "The sharpest, finest chiseling, and patientest fusing;" "distantest relationships;" "sorrowfulest spectacles."
Carlyle uses beautifulest, mournfulest, honestest, admirablest, indisputablest, peaceablest, most small, etc.
These long, harsh forms are usually avoided, but more and most are frequently used with monosyllables.
162. Expressions are often met with in which a superlative form does not carry the superlative meaning. These are equivalent usually to very with the positive degree; as,—
To this the Count offers a most wordy declaration of the benefits conferred by Spain.—The Nation, No 1507
In all formulas that Johnson could stand by, there needed to be a most genuine substance.—Carlyle
A gentleman, who, though born in no very high degree, was most finished, polished, witty, easy, quiet.—Thackeray
He had actually nothing else save a rope around his neck, which hung behind in the queerest way.—Id.
"So help me God, madam, I will," said Henry Esmond, falling on his knees, and kissing the hand of his dearest mistress.—Id.
Adjectives irregularly compared.
163. Among the variously derived adjectives now in our language there are some which may always be recognized as native English. These are adjectives irregularly compared.
Most of them have worn down or become confused with similar words, but they are essentially the same forms that have lived for so many centuries.
The following lists include the majority of them:—
| LIST I. | |||
| 1. | Good or well | Better | Best |
| 2. | Evil, bad, ill | Worse | Worst |
| 3. | Little | Less, lesser | Least |
| 4. | Much or many | More | Most |
| 5. | Old | Elder, older | Eldest, oldest |
| 6. | Nigh | Nigher | Nighest, next |
| 7. | Near | Nearer | Nearest |
| 8. | Far | Farther, further | Farthest, furthest |
| 9. | Late | Later, latter | Latest, last |
| 10. | Hind | Hinder | Hindmost, hindermost |
| LIST II. | |||
| These have no adjectivepositive:— | |||
| 1. | [In] | Inner | Inmost, innermost |
| 2. | [Out] | Outer, utter | Outmost, outermost Utmost, uttermost |
| 3. | [Up] | Upper | Upmost, uppermost |
| LIST III. | |||
| A few of comparative form but notcomparative meaning:— | |||
| After | Over | Under | Nether |