-issimus

Latin

Alternative forms

• -issumus

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Italic *-isəmos, from Proto-Indo-European *-is-(t)m̥mós, from *-yōs (comparative suffix, zero-grade *-is) +‎ *-(t)m̥mos (absolute superlative suffix).

The latter is seen whole in -timus (e.g. intimus, extimus, citimus, ultimus, assimilated pessimus, optimus). The original form seems, however, to be *-m̥mós (see super, summus), which acquired an initial /t/ from the paradigm -ter ~ -timus (e.g. exter ~ extimus), and is cognate with Proto-Germanic *-umô (source, via metanalysis, of English -most). By various sound changes (e.g. *-isəmos > *-ismos > *-īmus) superlative grades in -īmus, -ēmus etc. (e.g. extrēmus, suprēmus) are also found.

The expected development of *-(o)ism̥mos > *-erimus is nowhere to be found. The geminate /s/ may be the result of expressive lengthening or influence from specific forms similar to pessimus and endings in -errimus and -illimus.

(Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ɪs.sɪ.mʊs]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [is.si.mus]

Suffix

-issimus (feminine -issima, neuter -issimum); first/second-declension suffix

1. Added to an adjective noun to form its superlative grade:

   ‎altus (“high”) + ‎-issimus → ‎altissimus (“highest”)

   ‎fortis (“strong”) + ‎-issimus → ‎fortissimus (“strongest”)

Usage notes

• Stems in -ro- and -lo- instead take the suffix -errimus and -illimus respectively (e.g. *polkros (pulcher) > *polkrisemos > *polkr̥semos > *polkersimos > pulcherrimus).
• Some adjective nouns have irregular superlative grades from other roots or compositions (e.g. bonus – optimus, malus – pessimus, magnus – maximus).

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

	singular				plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	-issimus	-issima	-issimum		-issimī	-issimae	-issima
genitive	-issimī	-issimae	-issimī		-issimōrum	-issimārum	-issimōrum
dative	-issimō	-issimae	-issimō		-issimīs
accusative	-issimum	-issimam	-issimum		-issimōs	-issimās	-issima
ablative	-issimō	-issimā	-issimō		-issimīs
vocative	-issime	-issima	-issimum		-issimī	-issimae	-issima

Coordinate terms

• -ior

Descendants

• Old French: -isme
• → Catalan: -íssim
• → Franco-Provençal: -issimo
• → French: -issime
• → Galician: -ísimo
• Italian: -issimo
• → Portuguese: -íssimo
• Sicilian: -ìssimu
• → Spanish: -ísimo

References

• Sihler, Andrew L. (1995), New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN
• 1865, Ferdinand Schultz, Lateiniſche Sprachlehre zunächſt für Gymnasien bearbeitet [Latin grammar adapted primarily for grammar schools], 6th edition, Paderborn, §67, pages 76–77:

  Die Superlativendung issimus ſchrieb man in der Vorauguſteiſchen Zeit auch vielfach issumus (ebenſo errumus, illumus; vrgl. §. 4. Anm. 2.), und ſo ſchreiben auch heut zu Tage viele Kritiker in den Ausgaben namentlich der Komiker, des Salluſt, und auch wohl des Cicero.

  The superlative ending issimus is also written frequently in the pre-Augustan era as issumus (likewise errumus, illumus; cf. §4 annotation 2.), and so too do many critics write today particularly in the editions of the comics, of Sallust, and indeed of Cicero.