hypersuperlative

English

Etymology

hyper- +‎ superlative

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhaɪ.pə(ɹ)suːˈpɜː.lə.tɪv/, /ˈhaɪ.pə(ɹ)sjuːˈpɜː.lə.tɪv/
• Hyphenation: hy‧per‧su‧per‧la‧tive

Adjective

hypersuperlative (not comparable)

1. (rare) Above and beyond what is superlative; super-superlative.
   • 1868, Abraham Cowley, James Hain Friswell, The Essays of Abraham Cowley‎^[1], Sampson Low, Son, and Marston, page 11:

     The half hat, the whole hat, the half smile, the whole smile, the nod, the embrace, the positive parting with a little bow, the comparative at the middle of the room, the superlative at the door; and, if the person be pan huper sebastus there is a hypersuperlative ceremony then of conducting him to the bottom of the stairs, or to the very gate: as if there were such rules set to these Leviathans as are to the sea, Hitherto shalt thou go and no further.

   • 1864, The American Journal of Education‎^[2], F. C. Brownell, page 350:

     Next you will have plentiful instances of extravagant, strained, hypersuperlative expressions, indicating the inability of the speakers to say what they would in definite, intelligible terms. You will find a large number of pretentious phrases, particularly foreign ones, dragged in to dignify this motley assemblage, many of which, however, you will find it difficult to recognize in their uncouth sounds and their ludicrous misapplications.

   • 1900, Charles Sumner, Complete Works‎^[3], Lee, page 112:

     In vindicating his conduct at a later day, John Adams protested against what he called "the hypersuperlative public virtue" of Washington, and insisted : "A Presi- dent ought not to appoint a man because he is his relation; nor ought be to refuse or neglect to appoint him for that reason." 2 With absolute certainty that the President is above all prejudice of family and sensitive to merit only, this rule is not unreasonable; but who can be trusted to apply it?

   • 1912, Musical America 1912-12-07: Volume 17, Issue 5‎^[4], Musical America Publications, page 2:

     But it is needless to comment on the powers of this monarch of the orchestra; on the vitality which he imparts, even to a bloodless composition, and his absolute mastery of the material subjected to his powerful personality—all this is surely well known to the American public. Brahms, as Max Fiedler presented him to us through the Academic Festival Overture and Symphonies, Nos. 1 and 2, is Brahms in the hypersuperlative degree.

   • 1934, Brian Doyle, Time, Volume 24‎^[5], Time Incorporated, →ISBN, page 50:

     Not ultraphenomenal sextuplets, not hypersuperlative septuplets, but metaphysical octuplets were blazoned in the headlines of the Chinese Press.

   • 1959, James Francis Rooney, Perception of Social Relations and Work Orientation on Skid Row‎^[6], University of California, Berkeley, page 132:

     There are 17 achievement responses with overblown or hypersuperlative themes.