Maimonides

On Leprosy

Latin Grammar: Comparison of Adjectives

Sequitur ex hoc quod attrahat humorem calidiorem vel frigidiorem debito. Vel grossiorem vel subtiliorem. Et propter hoc opilantur viae humorum, et provenit putrefactio, et mutantur in contrarium quantitates et qualitates humorum. Et ex hoc oriuntur infirmitates, sicut scabies, et pruritus, et vulnera magna. Sicut in lepra, et hulcus corrodens carnem, donec destruitur forma membri vel membrorum. Haec est ratio in istis quatuor virtutibus. Secundum eundem modum contingit in universitate entium. Quoniam illud quod generat generabilia, et inducit permanentiam sui esse in tempore definito. ... Illud idem est causa in renovatione nocumentorum in mundo sicut sunt tempestas et pluvia damnosa. Sicut nix, et grando, et turbines ventorum, et tonitrua, et coruscationes, et corruptio aeris.

The passage above begins with a series of adjectives in the comparative degre. As you recall, adjectives can be positive, comparative or superlative in English as well as in Latin (e.g.: good, better, best). Complete the chart below, changing these regular adjectives as needed to the positive, comparative or superlative degree. Put positive and superlative forms in the masculine singular.

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
1. caliduscalidioremcaldissimus
2. miser
3. solus
4. frigidiorem
5. brevis

PositiveComparativeSuperlative
6. subtiliorem
7. facilior
8. longissimus
9. celer
10. fortissimus

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