Translate Latin Superlative Adjectives Using Quam
In the previous article in this series, we discussed the use of “quam” with a comparative adjective. Recall that comparative adjectives are used in Latin to compare two persons or objects on some quality. For example:
Caesar est longior quam ille vir. (Caesar is taller than that man.)
Haec femina erat magis idonea quam illa femina. (This woman was more suitable than that woman.)
Like English, Latin also uses superlative adjectives to compare some quality among three or more persons or objects. Like comparative adjectives, the superlative adjectives of Latin have distinct endings or forms so they are easy to recognize. For example:
Vir est longissimus. (The man is tallest.)
Femina est maxime dubia. (The woman is most uncertain.)
Like Latin’s comparative adjective, “quam” can also be coupled with a superlative adjective to convey more information to a reader or listener. This use of “quam” can be a bit more difficult to understand because a superlative already supposedly indicates the greatest degree of a quality among three or more persons or objects. Read on to learn how to recognize and translate “quam” when paired with a superlative adjective.
Indicating the Highest Possible Degree of a Quality Using “Quam” and a Latin Superlative Adjective
When coupled with a superlative adjective in Latin, “quam” functions adverbially and helps indicate that the quality in question is not only the greatest among three or more persons or objects but that it is the greatest possible quality. Unlike English, Latin does this with just one extra word, “quam.” When translating from Latin to English using “quam” and a superlative adjective, you must include several more words to get your meaning across in English. Take the following example:
Caesar est longissimus. (Caesar is the tallest.)
Notice that the sentence simply implies to whom Caesar is being compared. Regardless of these other unnamed persons, we know from the use of the superlative adjective “longissimus” that Caesar is the tallest. However, there is a slight problem with using a superlative in this way. You see, simply because someone is the tallest among a group of three or more persons does not imply that the person is actually tall.
As another example, suppose three students get the following grades on an exam out of 100 points:
Mary gets 35%
John gets 40%
Sarah gets 45%
Using a superlative adjective, we can honestly say that Sarah received the highest score. But 45 out 100 is not a high score even though among the three scores Sarah’s was the highest. In both Latin and English we need a way to indicate more information when using superlative adjectives. We need a way to indicate when someone or something possesses the highest possible quality.
When paired with a superlative adjective in Latin, “quam” can be used to indicate the highest degree possible of some quality. In English, we often do this with the phrase “as…as possible.” For example:
John is as smart as possible.
Mary is as tall as possible.
To do the same thing in Latin, simply precede a superlative adjective with the adverbial word “quam.” For example:
Casear est quam longissimus. (Caesar is as tall as possible.)
Femina est quam maxime dubia. (The woman is as uncertain as possible.)
Unfortunately, “quam” here has the same spelling and pronunciation as the feminine accusative singular form of the relative pronoun “qui, quae, quod.” Many Latin programs introduce the relative pronouns before use of “quam” with comparative and superlative adjectives.
Consequently, students have trained themselves to instantly see “quam” as a relative pronoun. However, it is quite simple to overcome this training by looking for a nearby superlative that can be easily identified with the distinctive “–issimus –a –um” ending or coupling with the helping word “maxime.” When preceded by a superlative, the greatest degree possible of some quality is likely being expressed. Absent a nearby superlative, “quam” is likely a feminine accusative singular relative pronoun.
Conclusion
When coupled with the word “quam,” we can indicate in Latin that some subject possesses the greatest degree of something possible. English does the same thing with the use of the phrase “as…as possible” whereas Latin does this by simply preceding a superlative adjective with the word “quam.” Latin students should take care not to confuse the pairing of “quam” and a superlative with the feminine accusative singular relative pronoun. Again, look for a nearby superlative to eliminate the confusion.
This post is part of the series: Making Comparisons in Latin with Adjectives: Quam and the Ablative of Comparison
The first article in this series discusses the use of ‘quam’ when making comparisons with comparative adjectives. The second article show how to translate ‘quam’ when used with superlative adjectives. The third and final article discusses proper translation of the Ablative of Comparison.
