The most important proofs of the view adduced by Bopp are,—
1. The Sanskrit forms kataras=which of two persons? a comparative form; katamas=which of more than two persons? a superlative form. Similarly, êkataras=one of two persons; êkatamas=one of more than two persons.
2. The Greek forms, ἑκάτερος=each or either out of two persons; ἕκαστος=each or any out of more than two persons.
[§ 307]. The more important of the specific modifications of the general idea involved in the comparison of two objects are,—
1. Contrariety; as in inner, outer, under, upper, over. In Latin the words for right and left end in -er,—dexter, sinister.
2. Choice in the way of an alternative; as either, neither, whether, other.
An extension of the reasoning probably explains forms like the Greek ἀμφό-τερ-ος, and the plural possessive forms νωΐ-τερ-ος, ἡμέ-τερ-ος, &c, which, like our own forms in -r, (ou-r, you-r) correspond in termination with the comparative degree (σοφώ-τερ-ος, wiser). Words, also, like hither and thither are instances of what is probably the effect of a similar association of ideas.
[§ 308]. A confirmation of Bopp's view is afforded by the Laplandic languages. Herein the distinction between one of two and one of more than two is expressed by affixes; and these affixes are the signs of the comparative and superlative: gi=who; gua-bba=who of two; gutte-mush=who of many.
1. Gi=who, so that guabba may be called its comparative form.
2. Gutte also=who, so that guttemush may be called its superlative.