superlative

[suh-pur-luh-tiv, soo-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR superlative ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of the highest kind, quality, or order; surpassing all else or others; supreme; extreme: superlative wisdom.

Grammar. of, relating to, or noting the highest degree of the comparison of adjectives and adverbs, as smallest, best, and most carefully, the superlative forms of small, good, and carefully.Compare comparative(def 4), positive(def 21).

being more than is proper or normal; exaggerated in language or style.

noun

a superlative person or thing.

the utmost degree; acme.

Grammar.

the superlative degree.
a form in the superlative.

Origin of superlative

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin superlātīvus, equivalent to Latin superlāt(us) hyperbolical (super- super- + -lātus, suppletive past participle of ferre to bear¹) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English superlatif < Old French < Late Latin, as above

Related formssu·per·la·tive·ly, adverbsu·per·la·tive·ness, nounun·su·per·la·tive, adjectiveun·su·per·la·tive·ly, adverbun·su·per·la·tive·ness, noun

Synonyms for superlative

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR superlative ON THESAURUS.COM

1. surpassing, excellent, magnificent, preeminent.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for superlatively

correctly, wonderfully, admirably, flawlessly, impeccably, exquisitely, superbly, supremely, particularly, chiefly, mostly, largely, generally, notably, basically, predominantly, importantly, decidedly, absolutely, awfully

Examples from the Web for superlatively

Historical Examples of superlatively

If anything with us is good, it is superlatively good for being brief.
Continental Monthly, Vol. III, No IV, April 1863
Various
The alderman's eulogium on Mr. Punch was superlatively good.
The English Spy
Bernard Blackmantle
How superlatively happy she would be to accompany Mrs. Swiggs.
An Outcast
F. Colburn Adams
You don't, I mean, as a rule, get it all so superlatively together.
The Good Soldier
Ford Madox Ford
His name was Auku-wonze-zee, that is to say, “he who is superlatively old.”
Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet
Captain Marryat

British Dictionary definitions for superlatively

superlative

adjective

of outstanding quality, degree, etc; supreme

grammar denoting the form of an adjective or adverb that expresses the highest or a very high degree of quality. In English the superlative degree is usually marked by the suffix -est or the word most, as in loudest or most loudlyCompare positive (def. 10), comparative (def. 3)

(of language or style) excessive; exaggerated

noun

a thing that excels all others or is of the highest quality

grammar the superlative form of an adjective

the highest degree; peak

Derived Formssuperlatively, adverbsuperlativeness, noun

Word Origin for superlative

C14: from Old French superlatif, via Late Latin from Latin superlātus extravagant, from superferre to carry beyond, from super- + ferre to bear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for superlatively

superlative

adj.

late 14c., from Old French superlatif (13c.), from Late Latin superlativus "exaggerated, superlative," from Latin superlatus "exaggerated" (used as past participle of superferre "carry over or beyond"), from super "beyond" (see super-) + lat- "carry," from *tlat-, past participle stem of tollere "to take away" (see extol). The noun is attested from 1520s, originally in the grammatical sense.

superlatively in Culture

superlative

The form of an adjective indicating the greatest degree of the quality that the adjective describes. Best is the superlative form of good; fastest is the superlative form of fast; most charming is the superlative form of charming. The usual superlative takes the ending -est. (Compare comparative.)