CHAPTER IX.
ON CERTAIN FORMS IN -ER.
[§ 306]. Preparatory to the consideration of the degrees of comparison, it is necessary to make some remarks upon a certain class of words, which, with considerable differences of signification, all agree in one fact, viz., all terminate in -er, or t-er.
1. Certain pronouns, as ei-th-er, n-ei-th-er, whe-th-er, o-th-er.
2. Certain prepositions and adverbs, as ov-er, und-er, af-t-er.
3. Certain adjectives, with the form of the comparative, but the power of the positive degree; as upp-er, und-er, inn-er, out-er, hind-er.
4. All adjectives of the comparative degree; as wis-er, strong-er, bett-er, &c.
Now what is the idea common to all these words, expressed by the sign -er, and connecting the four divisions into one class? It is not the mere idea of comparison; although it is the comparative degree, to the expression of which the affix in question is more particularly applied. Bopp, who has best generalised the view of these forms, considers the fundamental idea to be that of duality. In the comparative degree we have a relation between one object and some other object like it, or a relation between two single elements of comparison: A is wiser than B. In the superlative degree we have a relation between one object and all others like it, or a relation between one single and one complex element of comparison: A is wiser than B, C, D, &c.
"As in comparatives a relation between two, and in superlatives a relation between many, lies at the bottom, it is
natural that their suffixes should be transferred to other words, whose chief notion is individualised through that of duality or plurality."—Vergleichende Grammatik, § 292, Eastwick's and Wilson's Translation.