1. The simple word, or Positive, becomes the Comparative by adding
_r_, or _er_; and the Positive becomes the Superlative, by adding
_st_, or _est_, to the end of it; as, Pos. wise, Com. wise_r_, Sup.
wise_st_; rich, rich_er_, rich_est_; bold, bold_er_, bold_est_. The
adverbs, _more_ and _most, less_ and _least_, when placed before the
adjective, have the same effect; as, Pos. wise, Com. _more_ wise,
Sup. _most_ wise; Pos. wise, Com. _less_ wise, Sup. _least_ wise.
2. _Monosyllables_ are generally compared by adding _er_ and _est;
dissyllables, trisyllables_, &c. by _more_ and _most_; as, mild,
milder, mildest; frugal, more frugal, most frugal; virtuous, more
virtuous, most virtuous. Dissyllables ending in _y_; as, happy,
lovely; and in _le_ after a mute; as, able, ample; and dissyllables
accented on the last syllable; as, discreet, polite; easily admit of
_er_ and _est_; as, happi_er_, happi_est_; polit_er_, _polit_est_.
Words of more than two syllables very seldom admit of these
terminations.
3. When the positive ends in _d_, or _t_, preceded by a _single_
vowel, the consonant is doubled in forming the comparative and
superlative degrees; as red, _redder, reddest_; hot, _hotter,
hottest_.
4. In some words the superlative is formed by adding _most_ to the
end of them; as, nethermost, uttermost or utmost, undermost,
uppermost, foremost.
5. In English, as in most languages, there are some words of very
common use, (in which the caprice of custom is apt to get the better
of analogy,) that are irregular in forming the degrees of
comparison; as, "Good, better, best; bad, worse, worst; little,
less, least; much or many, more, most; near, nearer, nearest or
next; late, later, latest or last; old, older or elder, oldest or
eldest;" and a few others.
6. The following adjectives, and many others, are always in the
_superlative_ degree, because, by expressing a quality in the
highest degree, they carry in themselves a superlative
signification: _chief, extreme, perfect, right, wrong, honest, just,
true, correct, sincere, vast, immense, ceaseless, infinite, endless,
unparalleled, universal, supreme, unlimited, omnipotent, all-wise,
eternal_.
7. Compound adjectives, and adjectives denoting qualities arising
from the figure of bodies, do not admit of comparison; such as,
_well-formed, frost-bitten, round, square, oblong, circular,
quadrangular, conical_, &c.
8. The termination _ish_ added to adjectives, expresses a slight
degree of quality below the comparative; as, _black, blackish; salt,
saltish. Very_, prefixed to the comparative, expresses a degree of
quality, but not always a superlative degree.
Read this Lecture carefully, particularly the NOTES; after which you may
parse the following adjectives and neuter verb, and, likewise, the
examples that follow. If you cannot repeat all the definitions and
rules, spread the Compendium when you parse. But before you proceed,
please to commit the