Uter vestrum est celerior? Relative comparatives without an explicit standard in Classical Latin

Abstract

The article explores Latin comparatives, both of adjectives and adverbs, which are not accompanied by an explicit standard (basis of comparison) in the form of the ablative of comparison or quam + NP/SENT. Such cases are considerably numerous, but virtually none of them are the so-called absolute comparatives.

The majority of comparatives have an implicit standard, which is recoverable from the context, situation, general knowledge, or through some logical operation. The article describes the typical circumstances under which the non-expression of the standard is the unmarked or even the only possible variant.

Keywords

• comparative
• relative comparative
• absolute comparative
• implicit standard
• explicit standard
• Classical Latin
• partitive comparative
• determinative comparative