Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Superlative, adj. (adv.). Also: superlatyve, -iwe, -if, -yfe, -yif. [ME and e.m.E. superlatyf (Chaucer), -yue (1447), -yve (1530), -ive (1575), OF superlatif (c1215 in Larousse), late Latin superlātīvus.]

1. adj. Of persons or things: Surpassing all others; very great in scope or degree; most excellent, outstanding or significant.attrib. 1460 Hay Alex. 9657.
Quhilkis saul makis all thare operationis Obeysand to the sprite superlative c1460 Regim. Princ. 233 (Maitl.).
And be it in heid court of our souerane lord Quhilkis signifijs iugement superlatiue 1513 Doug. x Prol. 37.
Quhilk souerane substans, in gre superlatyve Na cunnyng comprehend may nor discryve c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 633.
The ȝoungkeir said, with voce superlatiue c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 760.
Thay … Ponderat weill the falt superlatiue And deput ane to gif diffinitiue Answer 15.. Clar. v 2405.
Clariodus … in grie stude [ay] superlative, Abone all uther knightis Arundel MS 275/38.
To quhois incomprehensable maieste, Superlatyve and innosable mycht, Be infynite laude a1568 Pedder C. 3.
To discryve This holy perfyte genolagie Off pedder knavis superlatyve a1568 Wedderburn in Bann. MS 239b/7.
Thair intoxicatt blasphematioun To dimegrat fair wemenis honest lyfe To quhome God hes schawin lufe superlatyfe a1568 Wedderburn in Bann. MS 279a/17.
Superlatyif c1460 Regim. Princ. 233 (Maitl.).
Be it in heid court of our souerane lord Quhilkis signifijs iugement superlatiue 1580 Hume Promine Ep. 2.
O peirles prince, and perll superlatiue 15… Edinb. Univ. MS La.iv.6.
Be that perle superlative Scho is the lustiest on livepredic. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 197.
Gowere and Chaucere … Superlatiue as poetis laureate In moralitee and eloquence ornate 1533 Bell. Livy I 29/16.
Ane lusty virgine (quhais bewtie was superlative abone all the laif) a1561 Norvell Meroure 19b.
Grant throw my death, which was superlatyue, May entre peace, and euerlasting lyue

b. Most extreme in terms of harshness and severity. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 743 (Asl.).
That saire sensyment is sa superlatif I lak gud langage thar panes till expreme a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 421/84.
Quhen syt and sorrow seimis superlatiwe Sagis suld seim leist sucius and sorie

2. Of the grammatical degrees of comparison: That which exceeds the comparative degree, and expresses the highest or most intense degree of the quality denoted by the simple word. 16.. Rudiments 3a.
M. How manie degrees of comparison ar there. P. The degrees of comparisone ar thrie, positiue, comparatiue & superlatiue

3. adv. Supremely; exceedingly. 1685 Lauder Observes 197.
We have seen Abimelech and Pyrrhus dy by the hands of weemen, who are superlative vindictive