Editing Latin declension (section)

=== Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives ===
As in English, adjectives have superlative and comparative forms. For regular first and second declension and third declension adjectives with one or two endings, the comparative is formed by adding ''-ior'' for the masculine and feminine, and ''-ius'' for the neuter to the stem. The genitives for both are formed by adding ''-iōris''. Therefore, they are declined in the third declension, but they are not declined as ''i''-stems. Superlatives are formed by adding ''-issimus, -issima, -issimum'' to the stem and are thus declined like first and second declension adjectives.

====General pattern for comparatives====
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="3" |
! colspan="4" | {{wikt-lang|la|altior|altior, altius}}<br /> higher, deeper (comparative of {{wikt-lang|la|altus}})
|-
! colspan="2" | Singular
! colspan="2" | Plural
|-
! Masculine, Feminine
! Neuter
! Masculine, Feminine
! Neuter
|-
! Nominative, Vocative
|altior || rowspan="2" | altius || rowspan="2" | altiōrēs || rowspan="2" | altiōra
|-
! Accusative
|altiōrem
|-
! Genitive
| colspan="2" | altiōris || colspan="2" | altiōrum
|-
! Dative
| colspan="2" | altiōrī || colspan="2" rowspan="2" | altiōribus
|-
! Ablative
| colspan="2" | altiōre
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="3" |
! colspan="6" | {{wikt-lang|la|altissimus|altissimus, altissima, altissimum}}<br /> highest, deepest (superlative of {{wikt-lang|la|altus}})
|-
! colspan="3" | Singular
! colspan="3" | Plural
|-
! Masculine
! Feminine
! Neuter
! Masculine
! Feminine
! Neuter
|-
! Nominative
| altissimus || rowspan="2" | altissima || rowspan="3" | altissimum || rowspan="2" | altissimī || rowspan="2" | altissimae || rowspan="3" | altissima
|-
! Vocative
| altissime
|-
! Accusative
| altissimum || altissimam || altissimōs || altissimās
|-
! Genitive
| altissimī || rowspan="2" | altissimae || altissimī || altissimōrum || altissimārum || altissimōrum
|-
! Dative
| rowspan="2" | altissimō || rowspan="2" | altissimō || rowspan="2" colspan="3" | altissimīs
|-
! Ablative
| altissimā
|}

====Comparatives and superlatives with normal endings====
{| class="wikitable"
! Positive||Comparative||Superlative
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|clarus|clārus, clāra, clārum}} ('clear, bright, famous')||{{wikt-lang|la|clarior|clārior, clārius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|clarissimus|clārissimus, clārissima, clārissimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|frigidus|frīgidus, frīgida, frīgidum}} ('cold, chilly')||{{wikt-lang|la|frigidior|frīgidior, frīgidius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|frigidissimus|frīgidissimus, frīgidissima, frīgidissimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|pugnax|pugnāx, pugnāx (pugnācis)}} ('pugnacious')||{{wikt-lang|la|pugnacior|pugnācior, pugnācius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|pugnacissimus|pugnācissimus, pugnācissima, pugnācissimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|benevolens|benevolēns, benevolēns (benevolentis)}} ('kind, benevolent')||{{wikt-lang|la|benevolentior|benevolentior, benevolentius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|benevolentissimus|benevolentissimus, benevolentissima, benevolentissium}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|fortis|fortis, forte}} ('strong, robust')||{{wikt-lang|la|fortior|fortior, fortius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|fortissimus|fortissimus, fortissima, fortissimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|aequalis|aequālis, aequāle}} ('equal, even')||{{wikt-lang|la|aequalior|aequālior, aequālius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|aequalissimus|aequālissimus, aequālissima, aequālissimum}}
|}

==== Comparatives and superlatives of ''-er'' adjectives ====
Adjectives (in the first and second as well as third declensions) that have masculine nominative singular forms ending in ''-er'' are slightly different. As with normal adjectives, the comparative is formed by adding ''-ior'' to the stem, but for the superlative, ''-rimus'' is added to the nominative masculine singular.

{| class="wikitable"
!Positive||Comparative||Superlative
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|pulcher|pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum}} ('pretty, beautiful')||{{wikt-lang|la|pulchrior|pulchrior, pulchrius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|pulcherrimus|pulcherrimus, pulcherrima, pulcherrimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|sacer|sacer, sacra, sacrum}} ('sacred, holy')||{{wikt-lang|la|sacrior|sacrior, sacrius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|sacerrimus|sacerrimus, sacerrima, sacerrimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|tener|tener, tenera, tenerum}} ('delicate, tender')||{{wikt-lang|la|tenerior|tenerior, tenerius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|tenerrimus|tenerrimus, tenerrima, tenerrimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|acer|ācer, ācris, ācre}} ('valliant, fierce')||{{wikt-lang|la|acrior|ācrior, ācrius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|acerrimus|ācerrimus, ācerrima, ācerrimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|celeber, celebris, celebre}} ('celebrated, famous')||{{wikt-lang|la|celebrior|celebrior, celebrius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|celeberrimus|celeberrimus, celeberrima, celeberrimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|celer|celer, celeris, celere}} ('quick, fast')||{{wikt-lang|la|celerior|celerior, celerius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|celerrimus, celerrima, celerrimum}}
|}

==== Comparatives and superlatives of ''-lis'' adjectives ====
Some third declension adjectives with two endings in ''-lis'' in the masculine–feminine nominative singular have irregular superlative forms. The following are the only adjectives that do.

{| class="wikitable"
!Positive||Comparative||Superlative
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|facilis|facilis, facile}} ('easy')||{{wikt-lang|la|facilior|facilior, facilius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|facillimus|facillimus, facillima, facillimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|difficilis|difficilis, difficile}} ('hard, difficult')||{{wikt-lang|la|difficilior|difficilior, difficilius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|difficillimus|difficillimus, difficillima, difficillimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|similis|similis, simile}} ('similar, like'')||{{wikt-lang|la|similior|similior, similius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|simillimus|simillimus, simillima, simillimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|dissimilis|dissimilis, dissimile}} ('unlike, dissimilar')||{{wikt-lang|la|dissimilior|dissimilior, dissimilius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|dissimillimus|dissimillimus, dissimillima, dissimillimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|gracilis|gracilis, gracile}} ('slender, slim')||{{wikt-lang|la|gracilior|gracilior, gracilius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|gracillimus|gracillimus, gracillima, gracillimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|humilis|humilis, humile}} ('low, humble')||{{wikt-lang|la|humilior|humilior, humilius}}||{{wikt-lang|la|humillimus|humillimus, humillima, humillimum}}
|}

==== Comparatives and superlatives of ''-eus/-ius'' adjectives ====
First and second declension adjectives that end in ''-eus'' or ''-ius'' are unusual in that they do not form the comparative and superlative by taking endings at all. Instead, {{wikt-lang|la|magis}} ('more') and {{wikt-lang|la|maximē}} ('most'), the comparative and superlative degrees of {{wikt-lang|la|magnoperē}} ('much, greatly'), respectively, are used.

Many adjectives in ''-uus'', except those in ''-quus'' or ''-guus'', also follow this rule.

{| class="wikitable"
!Positive||Comparative||Superlative
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|idoneus|idōneus, idōnea, idōneum}} ('suitable, fitting, proper')||''magis idōneus''||''maximē idōneus''
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|solitarius|sōlitārius, sōlitāria, sōlitārium}} ('solitary, lonely')||''magis sōlitārius''||''maximē sōlitārius''
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|ebrius|ebrius, ebria, ebrium}} ('drunk')||''magis ebrius''||''maximē ebrius''
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|meritorius|meritōrius, meritōria, meritōrium}} ('meritorious')||''magis meritōrius''||''maximē meritōrius''
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|gramineus|grāmineus, grāminea, grāmineum}} ('grassy')||''magis grāmineus''||''maximē grāmineus''
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|bellatorius|bellātōrius, bellātōria, bellātōrium}} ('warlike, bellicose')||''magis bellātōrius''||''maximē bellātōrius''
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|arduus|arduus, ardua, arduum}} ('lofty, steep')||''magis arduus''||''maximē arduus''
|}

==== Irregular comparatives and superlatives ====
As in most languages, Latin has adjectives that have irregular comparatives and superlatives.

{| class="wikitable"
!Positive||Comparative||Superlative
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|bonus|bonus, bona, bonum}} ('good')||{{wikt-lang|la|melior|melior, melius}} ('better')||{{wikt-lang|la|optimus|optimus, optima, optimum}} ('best')
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|malus|malus, mala, malum}} ('bad, evil')||{{wikt-lang|la|peior|pēior, pēius}} ('worse')||{{wikt-lang|la|pessimus|pessimus, pessima, pessimum}} ('worst')
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|magnus|magnus, magna, magnum}} ('great, large')||{{wikt-lang|la|maior|māior, māius}} ('greater')||{{wikt-lang|la|maximus|maximus, maxima, maximum}} ('greatest')
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|parvus|parvus, parva, parvum}} ('small, slight')||{{wikt-lang|la|minor|minor, minus}} ('lesser')||{{wikt-lang|la|minimus|minimus, minima, minimum}} ('least')
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|multus|multus, multa, multum}} ('much, many')||{{wikt-lang|la|plūs}}{{efn-lr|Noun used with genitive to express more of something in the singular; in the plural used as an adjective: {{wikt-lang|la|plures|plūrēs, plūra}}, genitive ''plūrium''.}} ('more')||{{wikt-lang|la|plurimus|plūrimus, plūrima, plūrimum}} ('most')
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|propinquus|propinquus, propinqua, propinquum}} ('near, close')||{{wikt-lang|la|propior|propior, propius}} ('nearer')||{{wikt-lang|la|proximus|proximus, proxima, proximum}} ('nearest, next')
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|maturus|mātūrus, mātūra, mātūrum}} ('ripe, mature')||{{wikt-lang|la|maturior|mātūrior, mātūrius}} ('riper')||{{wikt-lang|la|maturrimus|mātūrrimus, mātūrrima, mātūrrimum}}{{efn-lr|Often replaced by the regular form {{wikt-lang|la|maturissimus|mātūrissimus, mātūrissima, mātūrissimum}}.}} ('ripest')
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|nēquam}}{{efn-lr|Indeclinable.}} ('worthless')||{{wikt-lang|la|nequior|nēquior, nēquius}} ('more worthless')||{{wikt-lang|la|nequissimus|nēquissimus, nēquissima, nēquissimum}} ('most worthless')
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|posterus|posterus, postera, posterum}} ('next, future')||{{wikt-lang|la|posterior|posterior, posterius}} ('later')||{{wikt-lang|la|postremus|postrēmus, postrēma, postrēmum}} ('last, latest')<br> {{wikt-lang|la|postumus|postumus, postuma, postumum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|superus|superus, supera, superum}} ('above')||{{wikt-lang|la|superior|superior, superius}} ('upper')||{{wikt-lang|la|supremus|suprēmus, suprēma, suprēmum}} ('uppermost') <br> {{wikt-lang|la|summus|summus, summa, summum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|exterus|exterus, extera, exterum}} ('outward')||{{wikt-lang|la|exterior|exterior, exterius}} ('outer')||{{wikt-lang|la|extremus|extrēmus, extrēma, extrēmum}} ('outermost') <br> {{wikt-lang|la|extimus|extimus, extima, extimum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|inferus|īnferus, īnfera, īnferum}} ('below')||{{wikt-lang|la|inferior|īnferior, īnferius}} ('lower')||{{wikt-lang|la|infimus|īnfimus, īnfima, īnfimum}} ('lowest') <br> {{wikt-lang|la|imus|īmus, īma, īmum}}
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|senex|senex, senis}} ('old, aged')||{{wikt-lang|la|senior|senior}} ('older, elder')|| {{wikt-lang|la|maximus nātū, maxima nātū}} ('oldest, eldest')
|-
|{{wikt-lang|la|iuvenis|iuvenis, iuvenis}} ('young, youthful')||{{wikt-lang|la|iuvenior|iuvenior}} ('younger') <br> {{wikt-lang|la|iunior|iūnior}}|| {{wikt-lang|la|minimus nātū, minima nātū}} ('youngest'){{efn-lr|Sometimes {{lang|la|iunissimus}} is found in medieval Latin, e.g. Callistus Nicephorus, {{lang|la|Ecclesiastica Historia}}, 1574.}}
|}
{{notelist-lr}}