A compendious guide to the Low-Dutch language / Korte wegwyzer der Nederduytsche taal

Of the Comparison of Adjectives.

There are three degrees of Comparison, called the Positive, Comparative and Superlative.

The Positive betokeneth the thing meerly as it is, whithout any addition, as Ryk Rich.

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The Comparative heightens the sense, as Ryker Richer.

The Superlative exceeds in the highest degree, as Rykst or rykste Richest.

The Comparative is expressed by adding er and somtemes der to the Positive, as Groot_, grooter Great, greater; wys, wyzer, wise, wiser; ver, verder, far, farther.

And the Superlative is formed by joyning st or ste to the Positive, as Groot, grootst or grootste Greatest. It is very usual to prefix aller to the Superlative, the more to heighten its sense, as de Alderwyste the Wisest of all. Hence the following Examples are formed.

Positive. Hoog High. Comparative. Hooger Higher. Superlative. Hoogst, allerhoogst Highest, most high

Posit. Koud Cold. Comp. Kouder Colder. Superl. Koudste, allerkoudste Coldest,

Posit. Lang Long, tall. Comp. Langer Longer, taller. Superl. Langste, allerlangst Longest, tallest, the longest or tallest of all.

Posit. Magtig Mighty. Comp. Magtiger Mightier. Superl. Magtigste, allermagtigst Mightiest.

Posit. Oud Old, ancient. Comp. Ouder Older, more ancient. Superl. Oudste, alleroudste Oldest, eldest.

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Posit. Zoet Sweet. Comp. Zoeter Sweeter. Superl. Zoetste, zoetst Sweetest.

But some Adjectives are irregular and thus compared.

Posit. Goed Good. Comp: Beter Better Superl. Best, allerbeste Best, best of all.

Posit. Quaad Bad. Comp. Quaader, erger Worse. Superl. Quaadst, ergst Worst.

Veel Much, many. Meerder, meer More Meeste, meest Most.