Dictionary

superlative en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /suːˈpɜːlətɪv/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /sjuːˈpɜːlətɪv/ (Received-Pronunciation) conservative RP, dated
• /sʉˈpɛɾlətɪv/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /sʉwˈpəːlətɪv/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /suˈpɝlətɪv/ (US)
• /sɪʊˈpøːlətɪv/ (Wales)
• (Australia) audio
• /sʉːˈpɜːlətɪv/ (Australia)
• audio SSB

Etymology

From Middle English superlatyf, from Old French superlatif, from Late Latin superlātīvus, from Latin superlātus (“carried above, over; extravagant, of hyperbole”), past participle of superfero (“carry over”), from super (“above”) + fero (“bear, carry”).

Meanings

1. (literally, not-comparable) Having the power to carry something or someone above, over or beyond others.
2. (figuratively, not-comparable) Exceptionally good; of the highest quality.
   • The Governor-General was entertaining at a civil banquet in the evening. He is reported as having made a “superlative speech, congratulating the Victorians on their loyalty; […].” 1894, Alexander Begg, History of British Columbia, page 509:
3. (not-comparable) Of or relating to the superlative degree (a degree of comparison of adjectives and adverbs).

Deriveds

superlatively · unsuperlative · superlativity · superlativeness · hypersuperlative · oversuperlative · superlative degree · super-superlative

Synonyms

superb · extraordinary · above and beyond · fabulous · exceptional

Translations (53)

kk асырмалы (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · sk superlatívny (exceptionally good) · hy գերադրական (exceptionally good) · ru превосхо́дный (exceptionally good) · ms superlatif (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · pl doskonały (exceptionally good) · de hervorragend (exceptionally good) · nl overtreffende trap (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · ru велича́йший (exceptionally good) · hy գերադրական (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · uk найви́щий (exceptionally good) · ru вы́сший (exceptionally good) · fr suprême (exceptionally good) · it superlativo (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · gd feabhasach (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · fi erinomainen (exceptionally good) · nb superlativisk (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · de superlativisch (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · de superlativ (exceptionally good) · ms kepalingan (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · es superlativo (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · ca superlatiu (exceptionally good) · ro superlativ (exceptionally good) · de höchst (exceptionally good) · nb eksepsjonell (exceptionally good) · ru высоча́йший (exceptionally good) · it superlativo (exceptionally good) · pl znakomity (exceptionally good) · bg превъзходен (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · hi सर्वोत्कृष्ट (exceptionally good) · ru превосходный (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · ro suprem (exceptionally good) · pt superlativo (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · ca superlatiu (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · be найвышэ́йшы (exceptionally good) · bg превъзхо́ден (exceptionally good) · fi häikäisevä (exceptionally good) · el υπερθετικός (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · hu felsőfokú (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · ru наивы́сший (exceptionally good) · sk superlatívny (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · es supremo (exceptionally good) · ro superlativ (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · fr superlatif (having the power to carry something or someone above, over or beyond others) · fi superlatiivinen (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · fr superlatif (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · ang oferstīgendlīċ (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · is efsta stig (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · pt supremo (exceptionally good) · nb suveren (exceptionally good) · grc ὑπερθετικός (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · tl pasukdol (of or pertaining to the superlative degree) · pt superlativo (exceptionally good)

superlative en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /suːˈpɜːlətɪv/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /sjuːˈpɜːlətɪv/ (Received-Pronunciation) conservative RP, dated
• /sʉˈpɛɾlətɪv/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /sʉwˈpəːlətɪv/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /suˈpɝlətɪv/ (US)
• /sɪʊˈpøːlətɪv/ (Wales)
• (Australia) audio
• /sʉːˈpɜːlətɪv/ (Australia)
• audio SSB

Etymology

From Middle English superlatyf, from Old French superlatif, from Late Latin superlātīvus, from Latin superlātus (“carried above, over; extravagant, of hyperbole”), past participle of superfero (“carry over”), from super (“above”) + fero (“bear, carry”).

Meanings

1. The extreme (e.g. highest, lowest, deepest, farthest, etc) extent or degree of something.
   • A twist is accordingly something especially good, and a big twist is the superlative of excellence. 1966, Sidney John Baker, The Australian language:
2. The degree of comparison of an adjective or adverb used when comparing three or more entities in terms of a certain property or a certain way of doing something. In English, the superlative of superiority is formed by adding the suffix -est or the word most (e.g. tiniest, most fully); the superlative of inferiority, by adding the word least (e.g. least big, least fully).
3. An adjective or adverb in the superlative degree.
   • Sometimes it feels like there are no more superlatives left. Seriously, what else can be said about this little guy with the No 10 shirt and magic in his feet other than to ask, perhaps, whether there is anyone who wants to persist with the argument that Pelé, or Diego Maradona, or any of the others, have ever played this sport any better? 2019 May 1, Daniel Taylor, The Guardian:
   • Daniel is amazing, wonderful, fantastic, and many other superlatives I can’t think of right now!

Forms

Deriveds

relative superlative · superlative of superiority · superlative of inferiority · absolute superlative · super-superlative

Hypernyms

degree of comparison

Relateds

absolute · comparative · elative

Synonyms

zenith · acme · height · apex · peak · superlative degree

Translations (80)

lt aukščiausiasis laipsnis (degree of comparison) · ru кульмина́ция (highest degree of something) · hy գերադրական (degree of comparison) · pt superlativo (highest degree of something) · pl stopień najwyższy (degree of comparison) · fr superlatif (degree of comparison) · cmn 最高級 /最高级 (highest degree of something) · sv superlativ (degree of comparison) · ang oferstīgendlīċ (degree of comparison) · th ชั้นเยี่ยม (degree of comparison) · et ülivõrre (degree of comparison) · af superlatief (degree of comparison) · ru превосхо́дная сте́пень (degree of comparison) · ro superlativ (degree of comparison) · hu felsőfok (degree of comparison) · ka აღმატებითი ხარისხი (degree of comparison) · es superlativo (highest degree of something) · et ülim (adjective or adverb in the superlative degree) · it superlativo (adjective or adverb in the superlative degree) · fi yliaste (degree of comparison) · he מופלג (highest degree of something) · nb superlativ (degree of comparison) · de Meiststufe (highest degree of something) · sl presežnik (degree of comparison) · bg връх (highest degree of something) · sh су̏перлатӣв (degree of comparison) · bg превъзхо́дна сте́пен (degree of comparison) · nl superlatief (degree of comparison) · it superlativo (degree of comparison) · br derez-uhelañ (degree of comparison) · ka აღმატებითი (degree of comparison) · sk superlativ (degree of comparison) · nb superlativ (highest degree of something) · fa صفت برترین (degree of comparison) · sk superlatív (adjective or adverb in the superlative degree) · sh sȕperlatīv (degree of comparison) · et üli- (adjective or adverb in the superlative degree) · mk суперлатив (degree of comparison) · de Superlativ (degree of comparison) · lt aukščiausiasis (degree of comparison) · pt superlativo (degree of comparison) · bg кулминация (highest degree of something) · es superlativo (degree of comparison) · pl superlatyw (highest degree of something) · de Superlativ (highest degree of something) · sk tretí stupeň (degree of comparison) · sl superlativ (degree of comparison) · fi huippu (highest degree of something) · ar دَرَجَة فَائِقَة (degree of comparison) · de Höchststufe (highest degree of something) · nrf supèrlatif (degree of comparison) · nb superlativ (adjective or adverb in the superlative degree) · cs superlativ (highest degree of something) · fo hástig (highest degree of something) · ru верши́на (highest degree of something) · nl overtreffende trap (adjective or adverb in the superlative degree) · ga sárchéim (degree of comparison) · uk найви́щий сту́пінь (degree of comparison) · bg суперлатив (adjective or adverb in the superlative degree) · gd feabhasach (degree of comparison) · grc ὑπερθετικόν (degree of comparison) · fr summum (highest degree of something) · it superlativo (highest degree of something) · ja 最上級 (degree of comparison) · da superlativ (degree of comparison) · fi superlatiivi (degree of comparison) · ru вы́сшая то́чка (highest degree of something) · tl pasukdol (degree of comparison) · el υπερθετικό (degree of comparison) · cmn 最高級 /最高级 (degree of comparison) · pl superlatyw (degree of comparison) · el υπερθετικός (degree of comparison) · be найвышэ́йшая ступе́нь (degree of comparison) · cs superlativ (degree of comparison) · hy գերադրական (highest degree of something) · sl presežek (highest degree of something) · ko 최상급 (degree of comparison) · ru суперляти́в (degree of comparison) · fi superlatiivi (adjective or adverb in the superlative degree) · nl overtreffende trap (degree of comparison)