As Felix, felicia—Dives, divitia.
COMPARISONS OF ADJECTIVES.
Comparisons are odious—
Adjectives have three degrees of comparison. This is perhaps the reason why they are so disagreeable to learn.
The first degree of comparison is the positive, which denotes the quality of a thing absolutely. Thus, the Eton Latin Grammar is lepidus, funny.
The second is the comparative, which increases or lessens the quality, formed by adding or to the first case of the positive ending in i. Thus the Charter House Grammar, is lepidor—funnier, or more funny. —The third is the superlative, which increases or diminishes the signification to the greatest degree, formed from the same case by adding thereto, ssimus. Thus the Comic Latin Grammar is lepidissimus, funniest, or most funny. A Londoner is acutus, sharp, or ’cute,—a Yorkshireman acutior, sharper, or more sharp, ’cuter or more ’cute—but a Yankee is acutissimus—sharpest, or most sharp, ’cutest or most ’cute, or tarnation ’cute.
Enumerate, in the manner following, with substantives, the exceptions to this rule, mentioned in the Eton Grammar.
| Bonus, good. A plain pudding. | Melior, better. A suet pudding. | Optimus, best. A plum pudding. |
| Malus, bad. A caning. | Pejor, worse. A spatting. | Pessimus, worst. A flogging. |
| &c. &c. | ||