Adjectives irregularly compared. 163.

Among the variously derived adjectives now in our language there are some which may always be recognized as native English. These are adjectives irregularly compared. Most of them have worn down or become confused with similar words, but they are essentially the same forms that have lived for so many centuries. The following lists include the majority of them: LIST I. . #. %. '. (. *. -. .. 0. 1 . !ood or well Evil, bad, ill &ittle )ld +igh +ear /ar &ate 2ind "etter $orse &ess, lesser Elder, older +igher +earer &ater, latter 2inder LIST II. These have no adjective 3ositive: . 45n6 5nner 5nmost, innermost "est $orst &east Most Eldest, oldest +ighest, ne,t +earest &atest, last 2indmost, hindermost

Much or many More

/arther, further /arthest, furthest

# )utmost, outermost 4)ut6 )uter, utter . 7tmost, uttermost % 4736 733er . 73most, u33ermost LIST III. A few of com3arative form but not com3arative meaning: After )ver 7nder +ether

Remarks on Irregular Adjectives.

List I. 164. 8 9 The word good has no com3arative or su3erlative, but ta:es the 3lace of a 3ositive to better and best. There was an old com3arative bet, which has gone out of use; as in the sentence 8 'th century9, <5ch singe bet than thu dest< 85 sing better

than thou dost9. The su3erlative 5 form was betst, which has softened to the modern best. 8#9 5n )ld English, evil was the 3ositive to worse, worst; but later bad and ill were borrowed from the +orse, and used as 3ositives to the same com3arative and su3erlative. Worser was once used, a double com3arative; as in =ha:es3eare, ), throw away the worser 3art of it.2amlet. 8%9 Little is used as 3ositive to less, least, though from a different root. A double com3arative, lesser, is often used; as, $e have it in a much lesser degree.Matthew Arnold. Thrust the lesser half by main force into the fists of 2o>ti. &amb. 8'9 The words muc and many now e,3ress ?uantity; but in former times much was used in the sense of large, great, and was the same word that is found in the 3roverb, <Many a little ma:es a mickle.< 5ts s3elling has been micel, muchel, moche, much, the 3arallel form mickle being rarely used. The meanings greater, greatest, are shown in such 3hrases as, The more 3art being of one mind, to England we sailed.@ingsley. The most 3art :e3t a stolid indifference.Id. The latter, meaning the largest part, is ?uite common. 8(9 The forms elder, eldest, are earlier than older, oldest. A few other words with the vowel o had similar change in the com3arative and su3erlative, as long, strong, etc.; but these have followed old by :ee3ing the same vowel o in all the forms, instead of lenger, strenger, etc., the old forms. 8*9 and 8-9 "oth nig and near seem regular in Modern English, e,ce3t the form next; but originally the com3arison was nigh, near, next. 5n the same way the word ig had in Middle English the su3erlative hexte. "y and by the com3arative near was regarded as a 3ositive form, and on it were built a double com3arative nearer, and the su3erlative nearest, which adds -est to what is really a com3arative instead of a sim3le adjective. 8.9 These words also show confusion and conse?uent modification, coming about as follows: !urt er really belongs to another series,forth, further, first. "irst became entirely detached from the series, and furthest began to be used to follow the com3arative further; then these were used as com3arative and su3erlative of far. The word !ar had formerly the com3arative and su3erlative farrer, farrest. 5n imitation of further, furthest, th came into the others, ma:ing the modern farther,

farthest. "etween the two sets as they now stand, there is scarcely any distinction, e,ce3t 3erha3s further is more used than farther in the sense of additional; as, for e,am3le, $hen that evil 3rinci3le was left with no further material to su33ort it. 2awthorne. 809 Latter and last are the older forms. =ince later, latest, came into use, a distinction has grown u3 between the two series. Later and latest have the true com3arative and su3erlative force, and refer to time; latter and last are used in s3ea:ing of succession, or series, and are hardly thought of as connected in meaning with the word late. 8 19 #inder is com3arative in form, but not in meaning. The form hindmost is really a double su3erlative, since the m is for -ma, an old su3erlative ending, to which is added -ost, doubling the inflection. ind-er-m-ost 3resents the combination com3arative A su3erlative A su3erlative. List II. 16$. 5n &ist 55. 8=ec. *%9 the com3aratives and su3erlatives are adjectives, but they have no adjective 3ositives. The com3aratives are so in form, but not in their meaning. The su3erlatives show e,am3les again of double inflection, and of com3arative added to double>su3erlative inflection. E,am3les 8from Barlyle9 of the use of these adjectives: <revealing the inner s3lendor to him;< <a mind that has 3enetrated into the inmost heart of a thing;< <This of 3ainting is one of the outermost develo3ments of a man;< <The outer is of the day;< <far>seeing as the sun, the upper light of the world;< <the innermost moral soul;< <their utmost e,ertion.< >Most added to other words. 166. The ending -most is added to some words that are not usually adjectives, or have no com3arative forms. There, on the very topmost twig, sits that ridiculous but sweet>singing bobolin:. 2. $. "eecher. Cecidedly handsome, having such a s:in as became a young woman of family in northernmost =3ain.Ce Duincey. 2ighest and midmost, was descried The royal banner floating wide.=cott. List III.

16%. The adjectives in &ist 555. are li:e the com3arative forms in &ist 55. in having no adjective 3ositives. They have no su3erlatives, and have no com3arative force, being merely descri3tive. 2er bows were dee3 in the water, but her after dec: was still dry.@ingsley. 2er, by the by, in after years 5 vainly endeavored to trace.Ce Duincey. The u33er and the under side of the medal of Eove.Emerson. 2ave you ever considered what a dee3 under meaning there lies in our custom of strewing flowersFGus:in. Herha3s he rose out of some nether region.2awthorne. !ver is rarely used se3arately as an adjective. Adjective List This 3ublic document belongs to lists, who has shared it with you.

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English =ynta,: 7se our Teaching English =ynta, &ists > Hrintable J /ree, ideal for E=&. An adjective modifies a noun or a 3ronoun by describing, identifying, or ?uantifying words. An adjective often 3recedes the noun or the 3ronoun which it modifies. 5n the following e,am3les, the ig lig ted words are adjectives: The car*s aped balloon floated over the treeto3s. Mrs. =mith 3a3ered her living room walls with ideous wall 3a3er. The large boat foundered on the +ine dark sea. The coal mines are dark and dank. 'any stores have already begun to 3lay irritating & ristmas music. A ,attered music bo, sat on the ma ogany sideboard. The bac: room was filled with large, green rain boots. Appearance Appearance "ontd. adorable adventurous aggressive glamorous gleaming gorgeous &ondition alive annoying bad &ondition "ontd. im3ossible ine,3ensive innocent "eelings -.ad/ angry annoyed "eelings -.ad/ "ontd. grum3y hel3less

alert attractive average beautiful blue>eyed bloody blushing bright clean clear cloudy colorful crowded cute dar: drab distinct dull elegant e,cited fancy filthy

graceful grotes?ue handsome homely light long magnificent misty motionless muddy old>fashioned 3lain 3oised 3recious ?uaint shiny smoggy s3ar:ling s3otless stormy strange ugly ugliest unsightly unusual wide>eyed

better beautiful brainy brea:able busy careful cautious clever clumsy concerned crazy curious dead different difficult doubtful easy e,3ensive famous fragile frail gifted hel3ful hel3less horrible im3ortant

in?uisitive modern mushy odd o3en outstanding 3oor 3owerful 3ric:ly 3uzzled real rich shy slee3y stu3id su3er talented tame tender tough uninterested vast wandering wild wrong

an,ious arrogant ashamed awful bad bewildered blac: blue bored clumsy combative condemned confused crazy, fli33ed>out cree3y cruel dangerous defeated defiant de3ressed disgusted disturbed dizzy dull embarrassed envious evil fierce foolish frantic frightened grieving Sound cooing deafening faint harsh high>3itched hissing hushed hus:y loud melodic moaning mute noisy

homeless hungry hurt ill itchy jealous jittery lazy lonely mysterious nasty naughty nervous nutty obno,ious outrageous 3anic:y re3ulsive scary selfish sore tense terrible testy thoughtless tired troubled u3set u3tight weary wic:ed worried Time ancient brief Early fast late long modern old old> fashioned ?uic: ra3id short

"eelings -0ood/ agreeable amused brave calm charming cheerful comfortable coo3erative courageous delightful determined eager

"eelings -0ood/ "ontd. ha33y healthy hel3ful hilarious jolly joyous :ind lively lovely luc:y nice obedient

S ape broad chubby croo:ed curved dee3 flat high hollow low narrow round shallow s:inny

Si1e big colossal fat gigantic great huge immense large little mammoth massive miniature 3etite

elated enchanting encouraging energetic enthusiastic e,cited e,uberant fair faithful fantastic fine friendly funny gentle glorious good Taste2Touc bitter delicious fresh juicy ri3e rotten salty sour s3icy stale stic:y strong sweet tart tasteless tasty thirsty fluttering fuzzy greasy grubby hard hot icy loose

3erfect 3leasant 3roud relieved silly smiling s3lendid successful than:ful thoughtful victorious vivacious witty wonderful zealous zany Taste2Touc &ontd. melted nutritious 3lastic 3ric:ly rainy rough scattered shaggy sha:y shar3 shivering sil:y slimy sli33ery smooth soft solid steady stic:y tender tight uneven wea: wet wooden yummy

s?uare stee3 straight wide

3uny scrawny short small tall teeny teeny>tiny tiny

3urring ?uiet ras3y resonant screeching shrill silent soft s?uealing thundering voiceless whis3ering

slow swift young

Touc boiling breezy bro:en bum3y chilly cold cool cree3y croo:ed cuddly curly damaged dam3 dirty dry dusty filthy fla:y fluffy freezing hot warm wet

3uantity abundant em3ty few heavy light many numerous substantial

English Adjectives
4 at is an Adjective5 An adjective is a word that tells us more about a noun or a 3ronoun. An adjective describes or modifies a noun. List o! adjectives Spelling o! adjectives Adjective lists that follow each topic are only partial ones. T ree 3uestions. Adjectives usually answer three ?uestions about the nouns they describe: 1. 4 at kind o!5 K 5 found a red rose in the cave. K $hat :ind of roseF #ed 6. #o+ many5 K $hree tic:ets, 3lease. K 2ow many tic:etsF $hree. 3. 4 ic one-s/5 K 5 would eat these muffins. K $hich muffinsF $hese. 7inds o! adjectives. 1. 8emonstrative adjective this% that% these% those are called demonstrative adjectives. They 3oint out nouns. They always answer the ?uestion which one& In the following example% demonstrative adjectives are shown in color. K &ets 3lay this game and later watch that movie. Gemember that this% that% these% those can also act as demonstrative 3ronouns in which case they are not followed by nouns 8as demonstrative adjectives are9, but ta:e the 3lace of nouns. In the following example% demonstrative pronouns are shown in color. K &ets 3lay this and later watch that. 6. &ommon adjective is just a sim3le, regular adjective. 5t describes a noun in a general way. sharp% flexible% hot% red% hidden% dripping% nice% huge. 3. 9roper adjective is derived from a 3ro3er noun and is ca3italized. 9roper noun 9roper adjective Bhina "hinese Balifornia "alifornian Mars 'artian =3ain (panish

Bhristianity "hristian Ea3an )apanese 2ollywood ollywood Te,as $exas =ometimes, as in last two e,am3les, a 3ro3er noun does not change at all to become a 3ro3er adjective. 4 ere an adjective goes in a sentence. 7sually an adjective comes in front of the noun it is describing. K The big balloon floated over the dark sea. An adjective can also come after a lin:ing verb, li:e to be, and describe the subject of the sentence. 5n this case it is called predicate adjective. K The balloon was dark. Adjective Links K $hat is an adjectiveF from 2y3er!rammar K Adjective from wi:i3edia