absolute comparative
noun1
Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences The use of a comparative to indicate a relatively high degree of some quality, without explicitly making a comparison, as in "higher education".
- In a large number of languages (Tok Pisin among them), however, absolute positives may function as absolute comparatives. Considerations such as these are needed to understand Tok Pisin degrees of comparison.1995, John W. M. Verhaar, Toward a Reference Grammar of Tok Pisin, page 255:
- Related terms
- absolute superlative