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Electrum Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Comparatives and superlatives of dissyllabic adjectives with final -id
I found vivider, rapider and stupider in dictionaries.
What about lucider, placider, rancider, torpider, rabider, flaccider, vapider, etc.? The mere fact that a comparative or superlative does not appear in a dictionary does not mean that it is considered impermissible. It may be intended that it be understood by default to exist.
What about lucider, placider, rancider, torpider, rabider, flaccider, vapider, etc.? The mere fact that a comparative or superlative does not appear in a dictionary does not mean that it is considered impermissible. It may be intended that it be understood by default to exist.
Top answer
If it does not appear in any dictionary, then it is not 'permissible' in the sight of anyone who may have authority over your writing or anyone that you wish to respect your writing. Such formations are not by default, but by consensus: that is why only a limited number of the commoner and more euphonious bisyllabic -er comparatives have been generally accepted.
- If it does not appear in any dictionary, then it is not 'permissible' in the sight of anyone who may have authority over your writing or anyone that you wish to respect your writing.
- Such formations are not by default, but by consensus: that is why only a limited number of the commoner and more euphonious bisyllabic -er comparatives have been generally accepted.
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9 Answers
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If it does not appear in any dictionary, then it is not 'permissible' in the sight of anyone who may have authority over your writing or anyone that you wish to respect your writing. Such formations are not by default, but by consensus: that is why only a limited number of the commoner and more euphonious bisyllabic -er comparatives have been generally accepted.
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Mister MicawberIf it does not appear in any dictionary,Does that mean that I have to consult every dictionary in print? Sometimes you get different answers from different dictionaries.
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You should make a reasonable effort to review the major references, yes, as we all do. [url=http://www.onelook.com] HERE[/url] is a quick and easy way.
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I agree with MrM. I'd just like to mention that usage varies greatly even among native speakers. Some er comparatives sound good to some of them while others consider the same comparatives unidiomatic. For example, an educated Englishman once said to me that commoner (used by MrM) was a person and the only correct comparative was more common.My English teacher told me otherwis
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Mister MicawberYou should make a reasonable effortWell, that's what I do do. I spend more time looking up words and ideas in dictionaries and encyclopedias than I spend writing my novel, which, after all, is just a sillly book.
But I thought someone might have known of a rule about these adjectives. Vivider is the one I wanted. Then once some
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Cool Breezean educated EnglishmanDiodn't Shakespeare use chiefest and perfectest?
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Mister MicawberYes. Four hundred years ago.Chiefest? Perfectest? He did? Well, that settles it. I'm never speaking to him again.
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