Word Study
superiority |
superiority complex |
superiorly |
superjacent |
superlation |
superlative
| superlatively
| superload
| superlucration
| superlunar
| superlunary
HYPHEN
WORDNET DICTIONARY
CIDE DICTIONARY
OXFORD DICTIONARY
THESAURUS
ROGET THESAURUS
superlative
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun superlative has 3 senses
- superlative(n = noun.communication) Array - an exaggerated expression (usually of praise); "the critics lavished superlatives on it" is a kind of congratulations, extolment, kudos, praise
- superlative(n = noun.state) acme, elevation, height, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tiptop, top - the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development; "his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty"; "the artist's gifts are at their acme"; "at the height of her career"; "the peak of perfection"; "summer was at its peak"; "...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame"; "the summit of his ambition"; "so many highest superlatives achieved by man"; "at the top of his profession" is a kind of degree, level, point, stage
- superlative(n = noun.communication) superlative degree - the superlative form of an adjective or adverb; "`fastest' is the superlative of the adjective `fast'"; "`least famous' is the superlative degree of the adjective `famous'"; "`most surely' is the superlative of the adverb `surely'" is a kind of adjective, adverb
Derived form adjective superlative1
Adjective superlative has 1 sense
- superlative(s = adj.all) greatest, sterling - highest in quality; Array Derived form noun superlative2
CIDE DICTIONARY
superlative, a. [L. superlativus, fr. superlatus excessive, used as p. p. of superiorferre, but from a different root: cf. F. superlatif. See Elate, Tolerate.].
- Lifted up to the highest degree; most eminent; surpassing all other; supreme; as, superlative wisdom or prudence; a woman of superlative beauty; the superlative glory of the divine character. [1913 Webster]
- Expressing the highest or lowest degree of the quality, manner, etc., denoted by an adjective or an adverb. The superlative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -est, most, or least; as, highest, most pleasant, least bright. [1913 Webster]
superlative, n.
- That which is highest or most eminent; the utmost degree. [1913 Webster]
- The superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, a form or word by which the superlative degree is expressed; as, strongest, wisest, most stormy, least windy, are all superlatives. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
superlative, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 of the highest quality or degree (superlative wisdom).
2 Gram. (of an adjective or adverb) expressing the highest or a very high degree of a quality (e.g. bravest, most fiercely) (cf. POSITIVE, COMPARATIVE).
--n.
1 Gram. a the superlative expression or form of an adjective or adverb. b a word in the superlative.
2 something embodying excellence; the highest form of a thing.
--adj.
1 of the highest quality or degree (superlative wisdom).
2 Gram. (of an adjective or adverb) expressing the highest or a very high degree of a quality (e.g. bravest, most fiercely) (cf. POSITIVE, COMPARATIVE).
--n.
1 Gram. a the superlative expression or form of an adjective or adverb. b a word in the superlative.
2 something embodying excellence; the highest form of a thing.
Derivative
superlatively adv. superlativeness n.
Etymology
ME f. OF superlatif -ive f. LL superlativus f. L superlatus (as SUPER-, latus past part. of ferre take)
THESAURUS
superlative
Olympian, absolute, accomplished, ace, aerial, aggrandized, aggrandizement, airy, altitudinous, amplification, amplified, arrant, ascending, aspiring, ballyhoo, ballyhooed, best, big talk, blowing up, burlesque, capital, caricature, champion, choice, chosen, classical, colossal, complete, consummate, crack, crass, cream, dazzling, decided, definitive, dilatation, dilation, disproportionate, dominating, downright, egregious, elect, elevated, elite, eminent, enhancement, enlargement, ethereal, exaggerated, exaggerating, exaggeration, exalted, excellent, exceptional, excess, excessive, exorbitance, exorbitant, expansion, extraordinary, extravagance, extravagant, extreme, fantastic, fat, finest, finished, first-class, first-rate, flagrant, flower, glaring, grandiloquence, grandiloquent, great, greatest, gross, haughty, heightening, high, high-flown, high-pitched, high-reaching, high-set, high-up, highest, huckstering, hyperbole, hyperbolic, hyperbolism, incomparable, inflated, inflation, inordinacy, inordinate, intolerable, lofty, magnification, magnificent, magnified, matchless, maximal, maximum, monumental, most, mounting, nonesuch, nonpareil, optimum, out-and-out, outright, outstanding, outtopping, overdone, overdrawn, overemphasis, overemphasized, overemphatic, overestimated, overestimation, overgreat, overkill, overlarge, overlooking, overpraised, oversold, overstated, overstatement, overstressed, overtopping, overwrought, paragon, paramount, peerless, perfect, pick, positive, precious, prime, prize, prodigal, prodigality, profound, profuse, profuseness, prominent, pronounced, proper, puffed, puffery, puffing up, queen, quintessence, rank, regular, select, sensationalism, shattering, shocking, singular, smashing, soaring, spectacular, spiring, stark, stark-staring, steep, sterling, stretched, stretching, sublime, super, superb, superexcellent, superior, supernal, supreme, surpassing, tall talk, terrific, the best, the best ever, the tops, the veriest, the very best, thorough, thoroughgoing, tip-top, top, top-notch, topless, toplofty, topmost, topping, total, touted, touting, towering, towery, travesty, unbearable, unconscionable, undeniable, unequivocal, unique, unmitigated, unqualified, unrelieved, unspoiled, unsurpassed, uplifted, uppermost, upreared, utmost, utterROGET THESAURUS
superlative
Superiority
N superiority, majority, greatness, advantage, pull, preponderance, preponderation, vantage ground, prevalence, partiality, personal superiority, nobility, Triton among the minnows, primus inter pares, nulli secundus, captain, crackajack, supremacy, preeminence, lead, maximum, record, trikumia, climax, culmination, transcendence, ne plus ultra, lion's share, Benjamin's mess, excess, surplus, (redundancy), superior, greater, major, higher, exceeding, great, distinguished, ultra, vaulting, more than a match for, supreme, greatest, utmost, paramount, preeminent, foremost, crowning, first-rate, unrivaled peerless, matchless, none such, second to none, sans pareil, unparagoned, unparalleled, unequalled, unapproached, unsurpassed, superlative, inimitable facile princeps, incomparable, sovereign, without parallel, nulli secundus, ne plus ultra, beyond compare, beyond comparison, culminating, transcendent, transcendental, plus royaliste que le Roi, more catholic than the Pope increased, enlarged, beyond, more, over, over the mark, above the mark, above par, upwards of, in advance of, over and above, at the top of the scale, at its height, eminently, egregiously, preeminently, surpassing, prominently, superlatively, supremely, above all, of all things, the most, to crown all, kat exochin, par excellence, principally, especially, particularly, peculiarly, a fortiori, even, yea, still more, I shall not look upon his like again, deos fortioribus addesse.
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