Accedence commenc't grammar, supply'd with sufficient rules for the use of such (younger or elder) as are desirous, without more trouble than needs to attain the Latin tongue the elder sort especially, with little teaching and their own industry / by John Milton.

Comparisons of Nounes.

ADjectives, whose signification may in∣crease or be diminish't, may form Com∣parison, whereof there be two degrees above the positive word it self, The Compara∣tive, and Superlative.

The Positive signifieth the thing it self without comparing, as durus hard.

The Comparative exceedeth his Positive in signification, compar'd with some other, as durior harder; and is formd of the first Case of his Po∣sitive that endeth in i, by putting thereto or and us, as of duri, hic & haec durior, & hoc durius; of dulci, dulcior dulcius.

The Superlative exceedeth his Positive in the highest degree, as durissimus hardest; and it is formd of the first case of his Positive that endeth in is, by putting thereto simus, as of duris duris∣simus, dulcis dulcissimus.

If the Positive end in er, the Superlative is formd of the Nominative case by putting to ri∣mus, as pulcher pulcherrimus. Like to these are vetus veterrimus, maturus maturimus; but dexter dextimus, and sinister sinisterior sinistimus.

All these Nouns ending in lis make the Su∣perlative by changing is into limus, as humilis, sunilis, facilis, gracilis, agilis, docilis docillimus.

All other Nounes ending in lis do follow

the general Rule, as utilis utilissimus.

Of these Positives following are formd a dif∣ferent sort of Superlatives; of superus, supremus and summus; inferus, infimus and imus; exterus, extimus and extremus; posterus postremus.

Some of these want the Positive, and are form'd from Adverbs; of intra, interior intimus, ultra ulterior ultimus, citra citerior citimus, priden•…•… prior primus, prope propior proximus.

Others from Positives without Case, as nequam nequior nequissimus.

Some also from no Positive, as ocior ocissimus. Some want the Comparative, as novus novis∣simus, sacer sacerrimus.

Some the Superlative, as senex senior, juve∣nis junior, adol•…•…scens adolescentior.

Some ending in us, frame thir Comparative as if they ended in e•…•…s, benevolus, maledicus, magnificus magnificentior magnificentissimus.

These following are without Rule, Bonus melior optimus, Malus pejor pessimus, Magnus ma∣jor maxi•…•…, Porvus minor minimus; Multus pluri∣mus, multa plurima, multum plus plurimum.

If a Vowel come before us, it is compared with magis and maximè, as pius, magis pius, maxi∣mè pius; idoneus, magis and maximè idoneus. Yet some of these follow the general Rule, as As∣siduus assiduissimus, strenuus strenuior, exiguus exi∣guissimus, tenuis tenuior tenuissimus.