Detail #262: Some Things to do with Comparatives and Superlatives

Just some ideas for a few small things one could make.

Pairwise Superlative

The pairwise superlative is a noun derived from an adjective that marks the most Adj out of a pair. Useful when pointing out one out of two. Reduplicating the pairwise superlative marker makes the form signify greatest out of a small group.

I'd assume that Bobajlik's claim that the comparative encompasses the superlative does not hold for this (much like it doesn't hold for absolute superlatives either). Thus, it would not necessarily have the same root suppletions that the comparative and superlative has, but could be formed more regularly. However, I'd rather form it using morphology closely related to the comparative than to the superlative.

A number of lexemes signifying things like 'husband', 'wife', 'enemy', 'friend', 'older sibling', etc could be formed by similar morphology, even though there's no necessity for the roots to be proper adjectives.

Tangential Superlatives and Comparatives

Forms that describe a thing as being 'at its best' and 'improving'.  'Tangential' here refers to the tangent of the curve of a function – thus basically being the derivative of a function. The tangential superlative is 0, but also the maximum point of the functional curve at which the derivative is 0. The comparative tangential could also permit participal forms that indicate "has/had potential for improvement" but also "has/had potential for improving (others)". 

Capped Superlative

Some case marking on the superlative form could indicate the maximum potential reachable quality of a thing. However, given that this is no longer a regular superlative, it to can break free of Bobajlik's universal, and thus be formed from the root of the regular adjective even if the comparative (and therefore also superlative) is suppletive.