The principles of Latin grammar; comprising the ... - Essan.org

§ 25 COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES. 6311. The learner should carefully notice the distinction betweenthe cardinal and distributive numerals in their ordinaryuse. Thus, for example, Duo consules viginti naves habebant,means, " the two consuls together had twenty ships," i. e.twenty in all, or ten each ;but Duo consules vicenas naveshabebant, means, " the two consuls had twenty ships each" orforty in all.§ 25. COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.108.—Adjectives have three degrees of comparison,the Positive, Comparative, and Superlative.] 09.—The Positive expresses a quality simply ; as, bonus,guoc* The Comparative expresses a quality in a higher orlower degree in one object than in another, or than in severaltaken together. The Superlative expresses a quality in thehighest or lowest degree in one object compared with severaltaken separately ;as, gold is heavier than silver ; it is the mostprecious of the metals. Hence, those adjectives only can becompared whose signification admits the distinction of moreand less.110.—The Superlative is often used to express a very highor a very low degree of a quality, without implying comparison;as, vir doctissimus, " a very learned man ;" hortusamcenissimus, " a most delightful garden." Thus used, it iscalled the superlative of eminence, and is commonly translatedwith the article a, or an ;—when comparison is implied, thearticle the must be used.111.—The Comparative is always of the third declension,and declined like mitior (99-4). The Superlative is alwaysof the first and second, and declined like bonus (98-1).112.—RULES OF COMPARISON.1. The comparative is formed from the root ofthe positive (56), by adding ior for the mas-