4. In the Anglo-Saxon, the following words exhibit a change of vowel.
| Positive. | Comparative. | Superlative. | |
| Lang, | Lengre, | Lengest. | Long. |
| Strang, | Strengre, | Strengest. | Strong. |
| Geong, | Gyngre, | Gyngest. | Young. |
| Sceort, | Scyrtre, | Scyrtest. | Short. |
| Heáh, | Hyrre, | Hyhst. | High. |
| Eald, | Yldre, | Yldest. | Old. |
[§ 241]. Now the fourth of these facts explains the present forms elder and eldest, the comparatives and superlative of old, besides which there are the regular forms old-er and old-est; between which there is, however, a difference in meaning—elder being used as a substantive, and having a plural form, elders.
[§ 242]. The abverbial forms in -or and -ost, as compared with the adjectival in -re, and -este explain the form rather. This rhymes to father; the a being full. Nevertheless, the positive form is rather meaning quick, easy = the classical root ῥαδ- in ῥάδιος. What we do quickly and willingly we do preferably. Now if the word rather were an adjective, the vowel of the comparative would be sounded as the a in fate, as it is, however, it is abverbial, and as such is properly sounded as the a in father.
The difference between the action of the small vowel in -re, and of the full in -or effects this difference, since o being a full vowel, it has the effect of making the a full also.
[§ 243]. The old form in -s will be considered, after notice has been taken of what may be called—
[§ 244]. Excess of expression.—Of this two samples have already been given: 1. in words like songstress; 2. in words like children. This may be called excess of expression; the feminine gender, in words like songstress, and the plural number, in words like children, being expressed twice over. In the vulgarism betterer for better, and in the antiquated forms worser for worse, and lesser for less, we have, in the case of the comparatives, as elsewhere, an excess of expression. In the old High German we have the forms betsërôro, mêrôro, êrërëra = better, more, ere.
[§ 245]. Better.—Although in the superlative form best
there is a slight variation from the strict form of that degree, the word better is perfectly regular. So far, then, from truth are the current statements that the comparison of the words good, better, and best is irregular. The inflection is not irregular, but defective. As the statement that applies to good, better, and best applies to many words besides, it will be well in this place, once for all, to exhibit it in full.