[*] 130.
Some Comparatives and Superlatives appear without a Positive:—
[*] a.
The following are formed from stems not used as adjectives:
2—
|
cis, citrā (adv., on this
side): |
citerior,
hither;
|
citimus,
hithermost.
|
|
dē (prep.,
down): |
dēterior,
worse;
|
dēterrimus,
worst.
|
| in, intrā (prep., in,
within): |
interior,
inner;
|
intimus,
inmost.
|
|
prae, prō (prep., before): |
prior,
former;
|
prīmus,
first.
|
|
prope (adv., near): |
propior,
nearer;
|
proximus,
next.
|
| <*>ltrā
(adv., beyond): |
ulterior,
farther;
|
ultimus,
farthest.
|
[*] b.
Of the following the positive forms are rare, except when used as nouns
(generally in the plural):—
|
exterus, outward;
|
exterior,
outer;
|
extrēmus
(ex
timus
), outmost
|
| īnforus,
below (see § 111. b); |
īnferior,
lower;
|
īnfimus
(
īmus
), lowest.
|
|
posterus, following;
|
posterior,
latter;
|
postrēmus
(pos
tumus
), last.
|
| superus, above;
|
superior,
higher;
|
suprēmus or
sum
mus, highest
|
But the plurals,
exterī,
foreigners;
īnferī,
the gods
below;
posterī,
posterity,
superī,
the heavenly gods, are common.
[*] Note.--The superlative
postumus
has the special sense of last-born, and was a well known surname.
