-issimus

(Inglés)

Added to an adjective noun to form its superlative grade

Pronúnciase como (IPA)

[ɪs.sɪ.mʊs]

Via Proto-Italic *-isVmos, from Proto-Indo-European *-is- (zero-grade of *-yōs (intensive/comparative suffix)) + *-tm̥mos (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 (cf. super – summus, Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐌽𐌿𐌼𐌰 (innuma, “innermost”)), with acquired 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. *-isemos > *-ismos > -īmus) superlative grades in -īmus, -ēmus etc. (e.g. extrēmus, suprēmus) are also found. The expected alteration of *-(o)ism̥mos to *-erimus is nowhere to be found. The -ss- may be an example of expressive lengthening of the *-s- or influence from specific forms as pessimus and endings in -errimus and -illimus.