From
iuvenis
,
youth
,
senex
,
old man
(cf. §
122
.
d
), are formed the comparatives
iūnior
,
younger
,
senior
,
older.
For these, however,
minor nātū
and
mâior nātū
are sometimes used (
nātū
being often omitted).
The superlative is regularly expressed by
minimus
and
maximus
, with or without
nātū
.
In these phrases
nātū
is ablative of specification (see §
418
).
Many adjectives (as
aureus
,
golden
) are from their meaning incapable of comparison.
But each language has its own usage in this respect. Thus,
niger
,
glossy black.
and
candidus
,
shining white
, are compared; but not
āter
or
albus
,
meaning absolute
dead black or white (except that
Plautus
once has
ātrior
).