The
adverbs, _more_ and _most, less_ and _least_, when placed before the
adjective, have the same effect; as, Pos. wise, Com. _more_ wise,
Sup. _most_ wise; Pos. wise, Com. _less_ wise, Sup. _least_ wise.
2. _Monosyllables_ are generally compared by adding _er_ and _est;
dissyllables, trisyllables_, &c. by _more_ and _most_; as, mild,
milder, mildest; frugal, more frugal, most frugal; virtuous, more
virtuous, most virtuous. Dissyllables ending in _y_; as, happy,
lovely; and in _le_ after a mute; as, able, ample; and dissyllables
accented on the last syllable; as, discreet, polite; easily admit of
_er_ and _est_; as, happi_er_, happi_est_; polit_er_, _polit_est_.
Words of more than two syllables very seldom admit of these
terminations.
3. When the positive ends in _d_, or _t_, preceded by a _single_
vowel, the consonant is doubled in forming the comparative and
superlative degrees; as red, _redder, reddest_; hot, _hotter,
hottest_.
4. In some words the superlative is formed by adding _most_ to the
end of them; as, nethermost, uttermost or utmost, undermost,
uppermost, foremost.
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