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177. Most adjectives form the comparative by adding -τερος (-τέρᾱ, -τερον), the superlative by adding -τατος (-τάτη, -τατον), to the masculine stem. Stems in -ο with a short penult lengthen -ο- to -ω-:

But ο-stems with a short penult:

178. A few stems drop -ο- before -τερος and -τατος

παλαιός makes also παλαιότερος, παλαιότατος. For φίλτερος prose writers use μᾶλλον φίλος (§ 180, below).

179. The endings -εσ-τερος, -εσ-τατος (in imitation of words like σαφέσ-τερος) are added to stems in -ον.

a. Some contracting stems in -οο- are compared as if -τερος and -τατος were added to the nominative singular masculine.

b. Note also ἐρρωμένο-ς (strong), ἐρρωμεν-έστερος, ἐρρωμεν-έστατος, with loss of -ο-, and χαρίεις, χαριέσ-τερος, χαριέσ-τατος, from the stem χαριετ-. (Cp. § 164.a.)

180. Comparatives and superlatives are often made by the adverbs μᾶλλον (more) and μάλιστα (most) or ἧττον (less) and ἥκιστα (least).

μᾶλλον φίλος  more dear, dearer

μάλιστα φίλος  most dear, dearest

ἧττον φίλος  less dear

Participles are compared only in this way.

181. A few common adjectives form the comparative by adding -ῑ́ων (stem -ῑον, § 149), the superlative by adding -ιστος (-ίστη, -ιστον), to the root of the positive, or to a different form of the stem.

[Cp. τὸ αἶσχ-ος (unseemliness), αἰσχ-ῡ́νω (shame)]

[Cp. ἔχθω hate, τὸ ἔχθος (hatred)]

[Cp. τὸ κάλλος (beauty)]

[Cp. ἥδομαι (be pleased)]

θᾱ́σσων is for ταχῑων: see §§ 56.c and 47.d.

For the declension of these comparatives see § 149.

182. Several common adjectives are irregular, because of sound changes, or because words quite different have come to be grouped together.

183. The following adjectives lack the positive.

184. Two superlatives, ἔσχατος (farthest, extreme) and ὕπατος (highest), and a few others in poetry, contain an old ending -ατος. πρῶτος is contracted from πρό-ατος.