-íssimo
See also: -issimo
Portuguese
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin -issimus. The borrowing occurred during the Renaissance by influence of Italian[1].
Suffix
-íssimo m (feminine -íssima, plural -íssimos, feminine plural -íssimas)
- forms the absolute superlative
Usage notes
- Though both are called superlatives, Portuguese words suffixed with -íssimo are not equivalent to English words suffixed with -est or preceded by most. Instead, they are equivalent to using the adverbs very or extremely to qualify the adjective.
- Adjectives ending in -ável or -ível are suffixed with -abilíssimo or -ibilíssimo instead, replacing the suffix:
- aceitável (“acceptable”) + -íssimo → aceitabilíssimo
- Adjectives ending in m change it to n:
- comum (“common”) + -íssimo → comuníssimo
- Adjectives ending in -ão change it to -an:
- Adjectives ending in z change it to c:
- feliz (“happy”) + -íssimo → felicíssimo.
- Adjectives ending in the semivowel <i> followed by a vowel lose the semivowel, in nonstandard usage:
- Some words may loan the superlative from Latin in addition to forming one with this suffix:
- paupérrimo (loaned from pauperrimus) and pobríssimo, superlatives of pobre
- Colloquially, the syllable <ssi> may be repeated a number of times for emphasis:
- grande (“big”) + -issíssimo → grandissíssimo (“very very big”)
References
- ^ 2009, Evanildo Bechara, Moderna Gramática Portuguesa, 37th edition, Editora Nova Fronteira, Editora Lucerna, page 154.