Elative (gradation)
Encyclopedia
In Semitic
linguistics, the elative is a stage of gradation in Arabic
that can be used both for a superlative
and comparative
. The Arabic elative has a special inflection similar to that of colour adjectives, though differing in certain details. To form an elative, the consonants of the adjective's root
are placed in the context aCCaC in the masculine singular, CuCCā in the feminine singular, and most commonly CuCaC in the plural. So the adjective kabīr كبير "large, great" is changed to akbar أكبر (as in takbir
) in the masculine singular elative, and to kubrā كبرى in the feminine singular elative. For the plural, **kubar would be expected, but separate masculine plural akābir أكابر and feminine plural kubrayāt كبريات are found as irregular forms. In modern Arabic, the feminine and plural forms of the elative are rarely used, except when the elative word is prefixed with the definite article.
Semitic languages
The Semitic languages are a group of related languages whose living representatives are spoken by more than 270 million people across much of the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa...
linguistics, the elative is a stage of gradation in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
that can be used both for a superlative
Superlative
In grammar, the superlative is the form of an adjective that indicates that the person or thing modified has the quality of the adjective to a degree greater than that of anything it is being compared to in a given context. English superlatives are typically formed with the suffix -est In...
and comparative
Comparative
In grammar, the comparative is the form of an adjective or adverb which denotes the degree or grade by which a person, thing, or other entity has a property or quality greater or less in extent than that of another, and is used in this context with a subordinating conjunction, such as than,...
. The Arabic elative has a special inflection similar to that of colour adjectives, though differing in certain details. To form an elative, the consonants of the adjective's root
Triliteral
The roots of verbs and most nouns in the Semitic languages are characterized as a sequence of consonants or "radicals"...
are placed in the context aCCaC in the masculine singular, CuCCā in the feminine singular, and most commonly CuCaC in the plural. So the adjective kabīr كبير "large, great" is changed to akbar أكبر (as in takbir
Takbir
The Takbīr or Tekbir is the Arabic term for the phrase ' . It is usually translated "God is [the] Greatest," or "God is Great". It is a common Islamic Arabic expression...
) in the masculine singular elative, and to kubrā كبرى in the feminine singular elative. For the plural, **kubar would be expected, but separate masculine plural akābir أكابر and feminine plural kubrayāt كبريات are found as irregular forms. In modern Arabic, the feminine and plural forms of the elative are rarely used, except when the elative word is prefixed with the definite article.