_1. COMPARATIV._
§ 135. The comparativ degree of adjectivs in Gothic is formd by means
of two suffixes, =-iz-= and =-ôz-=, to which the terminations of the
weak adjectivs ar added.
The formation with the suff. =-iz-= is more general than the other.
It is found in adjs. of all kinds; e. g., =managiza= (< =manags=,
=a=-stem), =alþiza= (< =alþeis=, §§ 127. 128), =hardiza= (< =hardus=,
§ 131).--But the suffix =-ôz-= occurs in =a=-stems only: =frôdôza= (<
=frôþs=), =swinþôza= (< =swinþs=).
NOTE. The adj. =juggs=, _yung_, has the compar. =jûhiza= (according
to § 50, n. 1). Its superlativ is not extant.
§ 136. The comparativs inflect exactly like weak adjectivs, but the f.
ends in =-ei= (§ 132, n. 4):
Sing. N. m. =frôdôza= n. =frôdôzô= f. =frôdôzei=
G. =frôdôzins= =frôdôzeins=,
etc., like the prs. ptc. (§ 133).
_2. SUPERLATIV._
§ 137. The superlativ degree, like the comparativ, is formd in two
ways, in =-ist-= or in =-ôst-=; e. g., =managists= (< =manags=),
=armôsts= (< =arms=, _poor_). The inflection of the superlativs is
precisely the same as that of ordinary adjectivs--strong and weak.
NOTE. No rule can be givn for the appearance of the =ô= or the =i=
in the suffix, except that the =ô=-form occurs only with =a=-stems.
We may suppose that a word which forms the compar. by means of
=i=, has =i= in the superl. also, and that, in like manner, the
=ô=-forms correspond to each other. This supposition, however, is
only founded on a few extant exampls.
_3. IRREGULAR COMPARISON._
§ 138. The lack of comparison of sum adjectivs is supplied by
comparativs and superlativs with a corresponding meaning, but without a
positiv:
=gôþs= (=d=), _good_ Compar. =batiza= Superl. =batists=
=ubils=, _evil_ " =waírsiza= " --
=mikils=, _great_ " =maiza= " =maists=
=leitils=, _litl_ " =minniza= " =minnists=
=sineigs=, _old_ " -- " =sinista=.
§ 139. A superlativ with an =m=-suffix is found in six words, which
ar derived from adverbial stems and appear without a positiv. The
=m=-suffix is either simpl: =fru-ma=, =innu-ma=, =aúhu-ma=, or
compound: =af-tuma=, =if-tuma=, =hlei-duma=.
Two of them hav assumed a comparativ meaning: =aúhuma=, _higher_;
=hleiduma=, _left_ (ἀριστερός); the others hav a superlativ or an
intensiv signification: =aftuma=, _the last_; =iftuma=, _the next_;
=innuma=, _the inmost_; =fruma=, _the first_.
These words follow the weak inflection, but hav the f. in =-ei=,
exactly like the comparativs.
NOTE. Sum superlativs in =-ma= ar compared anew in the uzual
manner: =aftumists=, _the last_; =aúhumists=, oftener than
=aúhmists= (cp. OE. ŷmest, Sievers-Cook, OE. Gr., § 314, n. 3),
_the highest_; =frumists=, _the first_.--The forms =hindumists=,
_hindmost_, =spêdumists=, _last_ (< =*spêþs=, beside =spêdiza=,
=spêdists=), suggest the missing =hinduma= and =spêduma=. Also
=miduma=, =midst=, =midumônds=, _mediator_, point to a form
=*miduma=, _midl_ (cp. OE. meodume, midmest).