Page:Sanskrit Grammar by Whitney p1.djvu/204

 c. In the older language, the words of this formation are not much more frequent than those of the other: thus, in RV. the stems in and  are to those in  and  as three to two; in AV., only as six to five: but later the former win a great preponderance.

472. These comparatives and superlatives are inflected like ordinary adjectives in, forming their feminine in.

473. a. That (especially in the Veda) some stems which are nouns rather than adjectives form derivatives of comparison is natural enough, considering the uncertain nature of the division-line between substantive and adjective value. Thus, we have, , , , , , and so on.

b. The suffixes and  also make forms of comparison from some of the pronominal roots, as, ,  (see below, 520); and from certain of the prepositions, as ; and the adverbially used accusative (older, neuter, -; later, feminine, -) of a comparative in  from a preposition is employed to make a corresponding comparative to the preposition itself (below, 1119); while - and - make degrees of comparison from a few adverbs: thus, , , , , , , etc.

c. By a wholly barbarous combination, finding no warrant in the earlier and more genuine usages of the language, the suffixes of comparison in their adverbial feminine form, - and -, are later allowed to be added to personal forms of verbs: thus, (R.: the only case noted in the epics) is more despondent,  disturbs more,  obtained in a higher degree,  will laugh more. No examples of this use of - are quotable.

d. The suffixes of secondary comparison are not infrequently added to those of primary, forming double comparatives and superlatives: thus,, and , ,  and -, , etc.

a. The use of as ordinal suffix is noted below (487); with this value, it is accented on the final, and makes its feminine in : thus,  m. n.,  f., hundredth.

474. From a few words, mostly prepositions, degrees of comparison are made by the briefer suffixes  and : thus,  and,  and ,  and ,  and , , , , , , , ,. And is also used to make ordinals (below, 487).