Degree: degree of comparison
Degree applies to adjectives and adverbs.
Pos: positive, first degree
The basic form of an adjective. The quality is not compared to the same quality of other objects.
Examples
- πολύς / polús “many”
Cmp: comparative, second degree
The quality of one object is compared to the same quality of another object. For an account of how the comparative is morphologically realized in Ancient Greek see Smyth 1920: 86-90 and 101. For the use of the comparative see Smyth 1920: 279-282.
Examples
- πλείων / pleíōn “more”
- δηλότερος “clearer”
- ἀμείνων “better”
- μείζων “greter”
Sup: superlative, third degree
The quality of one object is compared to the same quality of all other objects within a set. This corresponds in Ancient Greek to the relative superlative, which can be morphologically realized like the absolute superlative. For an account for the morphology of the superlative see Smyth 1920: 86-90. For the use of the superlative see Smyth 1920: 282-283.
Examples
- πλεῖστος / pleîstos “most”
- ὁ κράτιστος “the most powerful”
Abs: absolute superlative
The quality of the given object is so strong that there is hardly any other object exceeding it. The quality is not actually compared to any particular set of objects. This corresponds in Ancient Greek to the absolute superlative, which can be morphologically realized like the relative superlative. For an account for the morphology of the superlative see Smyth 1920: 86-90. For the use of the superlative see Smyth 1920: 282-283.
Examples
- ἥδιστα “most pleasantly”
References
Smyth, Herbert Weir. 1920. A Greek Grammar for Colleges. New York: American Book Company (Perseus Digital Library; Internet Archive).
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