The general rule is, that monosyllables and easily pronounced words of two syllables add _-er_ and _-est_; and other words are preceded by more and most.

But room must be left in such a rule for pleasantness of sound and for variety of expression.

To see how literary English overrides any rule that could be given, examine the following taken at random:—­

From Thackeray:  “The handsomest wives;” “the immensest quantity of thrashing;” “the wonderfulest little shoes;” “more odd, strange, and yet familiar;” “more austere and holy.”

From Ruskin:  “The sharpest, finest chiseling, and patientest fusing;” “distantest relationships;” “sorrowfulest spectacles.”

Carlyle uses beautifulest, mournfulest, honestest, admirablest, indisputablest, peaceablest, most small, etc.

These long, harsh forms are usually avoided, but more and most are frequently used with monosyllables.

162.  Expressions are often met with in which a superlative form does not carry the superlative meaning.  These are equivalent usually to very with the positive degree; as,—­

     To this the Count offers a most wordy declaration of the
     benefits conferred by Spain.—­The Nation, No 1507

     In all formulas that Johnson could stand by, there needed to be a
     most genuine substance.—­CARLYLE

     A gentleman, who, though born in no very high degree, was most
     finished, polished, witty, easy, quiet.—­THACKERAY

     He had actually nothing else save a rope around his neck, which
     hung behind in the queerest way.—­Id.

     “So help me God, madam, I will,” said Henry Esmond, falling on
     his knees, and kissing the hand of his dearest mistress.—­Id.

[Sidenote:  Adjectives irregularly compared.]

163.  Among the variously derived adjectives now in our language there are some which may always be recognized as native English.  These are adjectives irregularly compared.

Most of them have worn down or become confused with similar words, but they are essentially the same forms that have lived for so many centuries.

The following lists include the majority of them:—­

  LIST I.

1.  Good or well Better Best 2.  Evil, bad, ill Worse Worst 3.  Little Less, lesser Least 4.  Much or many More Most 5.  Old Elder, older Eldest, oldest 6.  Nigh Nigher Nighest, next 7.  Near Nearer Nearest 8.  Far Farther, further Farthest, furthest 9.  Late Later, latter Latest, last 10.  Hind Hinder Hindmost, hindermost

LIST II.