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Adverbs and Adjectives

The comparative and superlative forms of English adjective and adverb main entries are shown when suffixation brings about a change in spelling of the root word, when the inflection is irregular, and when there are variant inflected forms:

wet² adjective wetter; wettest . . .
good² adjective better . . . ; best . . .
evil¹ . . . adjective eviler or eviller; evilest or evillest . . .

The superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables are usually cut back; the superlative is shown in full, however, when it is desirable to indicate the pronunciation of the inflected form:

early¹ . . . adverb earlier; -est . . . 
gaudy . . . adjective gaudier; -est . . . 
secure² adjective -curer; -est . . .

but

young . . . adjective younger; youngest . . . 

At a few entries only the superlative form is shown:

mere adjective, superlative merest . . . 

The absence of the comparative form indicates that there is no evidence of its use.

The comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs are usually not shown when the base word is unchanged by suffixation:

quiet³ adjective 1 . . .