[su.per.la.tive] adj [ME superlatif, fr. MF, fr. LL superlativus, fr. L superlatus (pp. of superferre to carry over, raise high), fr. super- + latus, pp. of ferre to carry--more at tolerate, bear] (14c) 1: of, relating to, or constituting the degree of grammatical comparison that denotes an extreme or unsurpassed level or extent
2. a: surpassing all others: supreme b: of very high quality: excellent
3: excessive, exaggerated -- su.per.la.tive.ly adv -- su.per.la.tive.ness n
[2]superlative n (15c) 1 a: the superlative degree of comparison in a language b: a superlative form of an adjective or adverb
2: the superlative or utmost degree of something: acme
3: a superlative person or thing
4: an admiring sometimes exaggerated expression esp. of praise