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Descriptive Adjectives have been distributed into two classes. The FIRST CLASS under this distribution are those which fix the attention on the quality or property which they describe, whether this property be an object of bodily sense, as green, loud, or of the mental perceptions and affections, as dear, kind, true. Among these, the most characteristic are those which are not obviously derived from any other word, as good, soft, bright. Words of this class do not contain in themselves any reference to any other word; but we have various derivatives formed from them, as goodness, wisdom, soften, brighten, redden.

The SECOND CLASS under this distribution are those which have a manifest and distinct reference to some primitive, either a concrete substantive, as wooden, fatherly, or to a verb, as tiresome, seemly. These may be called ADJECTIVES OF RELATION. Various terminations are employed in the formation of such terms; some of Teutonic origin, as lovely, faithful, faithless, witty, sleepy, troublesome, sheepish, golden; others of Latin extraction, as gracious, ethereal, angular, adamantine, visionary, promissory, angelic, offensive, changeable, accessible, and others. Adjectives of this class often express the MATERIAL of which a thing is made, by the addition of n or en; as, Golden, brazen. Formerly this mode of derivation was more common than it is now; as Cedarn alleys; treen platters wooden plates.

But, as many words do not admit of the termination en, we use the substantive adjectively, without any change; as, An iron crown; a stone wall. The analogy of such cases leads us to do the same even where the adjective exists.

Compound words and phrases are used in the same way. Falstaff tells Prince Hal to "go hang himself in his own heir-apparent garters;" and Campbell uses similar forms in the line

"Like angel visits, few and far between."

THE DERIVATION OF ADJECTIVES.

§ 200. Adjectives are not derived from substantives only, but from other words, and especially from verbs. Of this kind we have but few English adjectives, unless we consider participles as such. In most cases we have the alternative between a Latin adjective and an English participle. We speak of hereditary rights, and of rights inherited from our ancestors; of native talents, or of talents born with a man; of derivative claims, or claims flowing from others; of striking or of impressive descriptions; of a radiant or a beaming countenance. Words from roots of the same sense, of which one is Latin and the other Saxon, are not often exactly synonymous. Thus, terrestrial is not precisely equivalent to earthy, nor sylvan to woody, nor feminine to womanly, nor timely to temporary. Their exact use can be learned only by a careful study of English.

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.

§ 201. Those adjectives which denote VARIABLE QUAL

How many degrees of comparison have adjectives that denote variable quantities, and what are they?

ITIES have three degrees of Comparison, the Positive, the Comparative, and the Superlative. Variable qualities are those which are capable of increase or diminution.

SIMPLE OR TERMINATIONAL COMPARISON.

§ 202. The POSITIVE degree of the quality is expressed by the adjective in the simple form; as, Wise, cold. The COMPARATIVE degree of the quality is expressed by adding r or er to the positive form; as, Wiser, colder.

The SUPERLATIVE degree of the quality is expressed by adding st or est to the positive form; as, Wisest, coldest.

The comparative refers to two persons or things, and denotes a greater degree of a quality in the one than in the other. The superlative refers to more than two persons or things, and denotes the utmost degree of a quality.

All monosyllables admit of r, st, or er, est, and dissyllables when the addition may be easily pronounced.

When adjectives end in y after a consonant, the y is dropped and i substituted before er and est; as, Lofty, loftier, loftiest.

COMPOUND COMPARISON.

§ 203. Every adjective susceptible of comparison may also be compared by the use of the adverbs more and most; as, More wise, most wise. This mode of comparison is generally used in the case of long words, for euphonic reasons, while the other is used in the case of short words.

DIMINUTION of quality, whether the adjective is of one syllable or more than one syllable, is formed by less and least; as, Happy, less happy, least happy. The termination -ish expresses a slight degree of a quality, as

In terminational comparison, how is the positive expressed? how is the comparative expressed? how is the superlative expressed? What is said of compound comparison? and of diminution of quality? and of the termination ish?

reddish. More, most, less, or least, prefixed to an adjective, forms with it virtually a compound adjective. We thus have the means of denoting at least five varieties of quality; as, Least happy, less happy, happy, more happy, most happy.

IRREGULAR COMPARISON.

§ 204. The following adjectives have DIFFERENT WORDS for expressing the different degrees of comparison:

Positive.

Good,

Comparative.
Better,

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It is stated that the Persian language has beh=good, and better for the comparative; so also bad, and comparative badter.

In other languages, the words corresponding to good, bad, much, little, are irregularly compared as in English; Anglo-Saxon god, betra, betst. In Latin, as an equivalent for good, better, best, we have bonus, melior, optimus.

Much is etymologically related to more. It is doubtful whether little and less are etymologically related to each other.

IRREGULAR TERMINATIONS.

§ 205. The following adjectives have IRREGULAR TERMINATIONS for expressing the degrees of comparison:

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§ 206. The following adjectives are DEFECTIVE in their comparison:

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What is said of the number of varieties of quality? Give an instance of irregular comparison, in which different words are employed. Give instances of irregular terminations in comparison. Give instances of defective comparison.

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The comparatives former and latter, or hinder; upper and under, or nether; inner and outer, or utter; after and hither; and the Latin superior and inferior; anterior and posterior; interior and exterior; prior and ulterior; senior and junior; major and minor, can not, like other comparatives, be construed with the conjunction than.

COMPARISON BY INTENSIVE WORDS.

§ 207. When very, exceedingly, or any similar word is put before the positive, it is called the Superlative of EMINENCE. Thus, "very bold" is the superlative of eminence, and boldest is the superlative of comparison.

Another mode of comparison is to select a certain class superior to others as the starting point of comparison; as, "King of kings;" "lord of lords ;" "the bravest of the brave."

The comparison is sometimes modified by such terms as somewhat, little, still, almost, much, so. Thus, "Learning is valuable, prudence is more valuable, and virtue more valuable still."

"Short, shorter, shorter yet my breath I drew."

ADJECTIVES NOT ADMITTING COMPARISON.

§ 208. Adjectives whose qualities are Invariable can not be compared. Among these are,

1. All words expressive of FIGURE; as, Circular,

square.

2. Certain DEFINITIVE adjectives; as, One, two, several. 3. Certain words implying MATTER, TIME, PLACE, PERSON; as, Wooden, daily, British, Mosaic.

4. Words denoting the HIGHEST or LOWEST degree of

What is said of comparison by intensive words? What is said of adjectives not admitting comparison?

a quality. The following has been given as a list of adjectives which do not properly admit of degrees:

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But familiar words of the first and fourth classes often assume the forms of comparison, to denote (1.) degrees of approach to the figure or quality; as, more circular, more nearly circular; more perfect, more nearly perfect; or (2.) to assert its possession emphatically; as, "Freest of the free;" "truer than truth."

COMPARATIVE ETYMOLOGY.

§ 209. In the Classical and the Anglo-Saxon languages, adjectives were declined. The following is the declension of god (good) in the Anglo-Saxon:

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§ 210. NUMERALS express the relation of number and quantity. In this they differ, like pronouns, from common substantives, adjectives, and adverbs, which express some quality or attribute of substances.

The importance of this class of words is evident from the consideration that quantity as distinct from quality is one of the categories. See English Grammar.

What do numerals express? how do they differ from common adjectives? and what is said of their importance?

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