| maledicus, slanderous, | maledīcentior, | maledīcentissimus. |
| magnificus, magnificent, | magnificentior, | magnificentissimus. |
| benevolus, kindly, | benevolentior, | benevolentissimus. |
a. Positives in -dīcēns and -volēns occur in early Latin; as maledīcēns, benevolēns.
6. Dīves has the Comparative dīvitior or dītior; Superlative dīvitissimus or dītissimus.
Irregular Comparison.
[72]. Several Adjectives vary the Stem in Comparison; viz.—
| bonus, good, | melior, | optimus. |
| malus, bad, | pejor, | pessimus. |
| parvus, small, | minor, | minimus. |
| magnus, large, | major, | maximus. |
| multus, much, | plūs, | plūrimus, |
| frūgī, thrifty, | frūgālior, | frūgālissimus, |
| nēquam, worthless, | nēquior, | nēquissimus. |
Defective Comparison.
[73]. 1. Positive lacking entirely,—
| (Cf. prae, in front of.) | prior, former, | prīmus, first |
| (Cf. citrā, this side of.) | citerior, on this side, | citimus, near. |
| (Cf. ultrā, beyond.) | ulterior, farther, | ultimus, farthest. |
| (Cf. intrā, within.) | interior, inner, | intimus, inmost |
| (Cf. prope, near.) | propior, nearer, | proximus, nearest. |
| (Cf. dē, down.) | dēterior, inferior, | dēterrimus, worst. |
| (Cf. archaic potis, possible.) | potior, preferable, | potissimus, chiefest |
2. Positive occurring only in special cases,—