----[21]

a. The Superlative is lacking also in many adjectives in -alis, -ilis,
-ilis, -bilis, and in a few others.

Comparison by _Magis_ and _Maxime_.

74. Many adjectives do not admit terminational comparison, but form the
Comparative and Superlative degrees by prefixing magis (_more_) and maxime
(_most_). Here belong--

1. Many adjectives ending in -alis, -aris, -idus, -ilis, -icus, imus, inus,
-orus.

2. Adjectives in -us, preceded by a vowel; as, idoneus, _adapted_; arduus,
_steep_; necessarius, _necessary_.

a. Adjectives in -quus, of course, do not come under this rule. The first
u in such cases is not a vowel, but a consonant.

Adjectives not admitting Comparison.

75. Here belong--

1. Many adjectives, which, from the nature of their signification, do not
admit of comparison; as, hodiernus, _of to-day_; annuus, _annual_;
mortalis, _mortal_.

2. Some special words; as, mirus, gnarus, merus; and a few others.

* * * * *

FORMATION AND COMPARISON OF ADVERBS.

76. Adverbs are for the most part derived from adjectives, and depend upon
them for their comparison.

1. Adverbs derived from adjectives of the First and Second Declensions form
the Positive by changing -i of the Genitive Singular to -e; those derived
from adjectives of the Third Declension, by changing -is of the Genitive
Singular to -iter; as,--

carus, care, _dearly_;
pulcher, pulchre, _beautifully_;
acer, acriter, _fiercely_;
levis, leviter, _lightly_.

a. But Adjectives in -ns, and a few others, add -er (instead of -iter),
to form the Adverb; as,--

sapiens, sapienter, _wisely_;
sollers, sollerter, _skillfully_.

Note audax, audacter, _boldly_.

2. The Comparative of all Adverbs regularly consists of the Accusative
Singular Neuter of the Comparative of the Adjective; while the Superlative
of the Adverb is formed by changing the -i of the Genitive Singular of the
Superlative of the Adjective to -e. Thus--

(carus) care, _dearly_, carius, carissime.
(pulcher) pulchre, _beautifully_, pulchrius, pulcherrime.
(acer) acriter, _fiercely_, acrius, acerrime.
(levis) leviter, _lightly_, levius, levissime.
(sapiens) sapienter, _wisely_, sapientius, sapientissime.
(audax) audacter, _boldly_, audacius, audacissime.

Adverbs Peculiar in Comparison and Formation.

77. 1.,