Early New English Adjective

The adjective in Early New English lost the form of plural and weak forms and acquired its present-day qualities. The degrees of comparison are formed by means of the suffixes -er and -est, vowel mutation which was characteristic of some of them was almost lost. The forms elder/older, eldest/oldest and further/farther, furthest/farthest are distinguished in use. So older forms elder, eldest are used to denote relations within a family and further/furthest are used in relation to time whereas farther/farthest to distance. In Shakespeare's times this not yet is firmly established, and we may encounter such uses as

He shall in strangeness stand no further off

Than in a polite distance. (Othello)

Go thou farther off;

Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going. (King Lear)

You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus;

I said, an elder soldier, not a better:

Did I say 'better'? (Julius Caesar)

I am a soldier, I,

Older in practise, abler than yourself

To make conditions, (ibid).

The tendency to unification of the general norm sometimes brings to the general rule even those the comparatives and superlatives of which were traditionally in suppletive way:

Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear (Hamlet) Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death, That murder'd me (Romeo and Juliet).

The new way of forming the degrees of comparison that appeared in Middle English - that is, analytically, by placing the adverb more and most before the adjective comes into practice. The rule that this new form is to be used only with polysyllabic and a limited number of bisyllabic adjectives was not yet established. Shakespeare's works illustrate what might be called synchronic variation of forms.

And with the deepest malice of the war

Destroy what lies before 'em. (Coriolanus)

I'll look to like, if looking liking move:

But no more deep will I endart mine eye

Than your consent gives strength to make it fly. (Romeo and Juliet)

And more inconstant than the wind (Romeo and Juliet)

Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting; it is a most

sharp sauce.(Romeo and Juliet)

This is unlikely:

He and Aufidius can no more atone

Than violentest contrariety, (ibid)

And Benedick is not the unhopefullest husband that

I know. (Much Ado About Nothing)

Double comparatives and superlatives - the instances when the adjective with a suffix is preceded by more/most are also found To vouch this, is no proof, Without more wider and more overt test (Othello) This was the most unkindest cut of all (Julius Caesar) Timon will to the woods; where he shall find The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind. (Timon of Athens)

At the same time more and most may also be used as comparative and superlative degrees of the adjective much - that is, they are not auxiliaries but adjectives of full semantics (equivalent to present-day greater, greatest).

If I do so, it will be of more price,

Being spoke behind your back, than to your face. (Romeo and Juliet)

I will debate this matter at more leisure

And teach your ears to list me with more heed. (A Comedy of Errors)

... where he would show most love.(Coriolanus)

You take my part from me, sir; I have the most cause

to be glad of yours.(Coriolanus)

The way of forming the degrees of comparison of adverbs is mainly the same - here we also find suffixes, analytical forms and even double comparatives and double superlatives:

Why, I have often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to

you. (Timon of Athens)

Trust me, he beat him most pitifully. (Merry Wives of Windsor)

She comes more nearer earth than she was wont,

And makes men mad. (Othello)