SUPERLATIVE


Meaning of SUPERLATIVE in English

I. su ‧ per ‧ la ‧ tive 1 /suːˈpɜːlətɪv, sjuː- $ sʊˈpɜːr-/ BrE AmE adjective

[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: superlatif , from Late Latin superlativus , from Latin superlatus , past participle of superferre 'to carry above, raise high' ]

1 . excellent:

a superlative performance

2 . a superlative adjective or adverb expresses the highest degree of a particular quality. For example, the superlative form of ‘tall’ is ‘tallest’. ⇨ comparative

II. superlative 2 BrE AmE noun

1 . the superlative the superlative form of an adjective or adverb. For example, ‘biggest’ is the superlative of ‘big’. ⇨ comparative

2 . [countable] a word that shows that you think someone or something is very good:

an actress who deserves superlatives

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.