adjective

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Grammatical part of speech for words that describe noun (for example, new, as in ‘a new hat’, and beautiful, as in ‘a beautiful day’).

Adjectives generally have three degrees (grades or levels for the description of relationships): the positive degree (new, beautiful), the comparative degree (newer, more beautiful), and the superlative degree (newest, most beautiful).

Some adjectives do not normally need comparative and superlative forms; one person cannot be ‘more asleep’ than someone else, a lone action is unlikely to be ‘the most single-handed action ever seen’, and many people dislike the expression ‘most unique’ or ‘almost unique’, because something unique is supposed to be the only one that exists.

The quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala, symbolizes freedom. The blue bands stand for the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The weapons represent the defence of liberty. Effective date: 15 September 1968. >>