Hypertext Webster Gateway: "superlative"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Superlative \Su`per*la"tive\, a. [L. superlativus, fr.
superlatus excessive, used as p. p. of superiorferre, but
from a different root: cf. F. superlatif. See {Elate},
{Tolerate}.]
1. Lifted up to the highest degree; most eminent; surpassing
all other; supreme; as, superlative wisdom or prudence; a
woman of superlative beauty; the superlative glory of the
divine character.
2. (Gram.) Expressing the highest or lowest degree of the
quality, manner, etc., denoted by an adjective or an
adverb. The superlative degree is formed from the positive
by the use of -est, most, or least; as, highest, most
pleasant, least bright. -- {Su`per*la"tive*ly}, adv. --
{Su`per*la"tive*ness}, n.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Superlative \Su`per*la"tive\, n.
1. That which is highest or most eminent; the utmost degree.
2. (Gram.)
(a) The superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs;
also, a form or word by which the superlative degree
is expressed; as, strongest, wisest, most stormy,
least windy, are all superlatives.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
superlative
adj : highest in quality [syn: {greatest}, {sterling(a)}]
n 1: an exaggerated expression (usually of praise); "the critics
lavished superlatives on it"
2: the highest level or degree attainable: "his landscapes were
deemed the acme of beauty"; "the artist's gifts are at
their acme"; "at the height of her career"; "the peak of
perfection"; "summer was at its peak"; "...catapulted
Einstein to the pinnacle of fame"; "the summit of his
ambition"; "so many highest superlatives achieved by man";
"at the top of his profession" [syn: {acme}, {height}, {elevation},
{peak}, {pinnacle}, {summit}, {top}]
3: the superlative form of an adjective; "`best' is the
superlative form of `good'"
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