Image: a close up view of a golden Roman coin depicting a consul with lictors.

Using Superlative Adjectives

The image depicts a Roman coin showing a consul (center) surrounded by two lictors. The consul was the highest elected office in Roman politics.

Unlike the comparative degree of adjectives, the superlative degree is not being used to establish a direct comparison between two nouns, but instead is establishing that the noun in question is at the highest degree, and so therefore is the most of all the other possible nouns.

Marcus is the tallest man.

Here, there is no need to include than because Marcus is being compared to all other men.

Marcus est altissimus (vir).
- N.B. - the noun vir is not necessary: Marcus and the adjective are masculine, so it is implied that the comparison is to all men.

Other translations can include very or most:

Marcus is very tall.
- Marcus is a very tall man.
Marcus is most tall.

Quam with the Superlative

Rarely, Latin does use quam with the superlative, but it is for added emphasis: as _____ as possible:

Marcus est quam altissimus.
Marcus is as tall as possible.

Comparative and Superlative Examples handout

For additional examples of superlative adjectives in use, please download the Comparative and Superlative Examples handout.