Does the adjective nude have a comparative form?
It has a superlative
Even the nudest nudist on the beach at San Tropez was wearing a necklace.
Ah, the wonderful world of "Absolute Adjectives," also known as "Non-Degree" or "Non-Gradable" Adjectives!
I remember witnessing a debate of sorts between my Latin/Classics professor and another professor (possibly in the English Department, but more likely one of the incompetents from the Department of Education), when the latter was insisting that absolute adjectives are
always impossible at the Comparative and Superlative Degrees.
My Latin professor smiled slyly and asked: "Tell me this: would you consider Thomas Jefferson a good writer?"
The other professor took the bait: "Jefferson was a genius! He was a GREAT writer!"
"Then you must know that he used the adjective '
more perfect' in the Declaration of Independence...'
in order to form a more perfect union...' ?"
"Oh, well, that was just for emphasis, or maybe irony!"
Still smiling, my Latin professor winked and said: "Nevertheless, there it is!"
And I came here to offer a recent monstrosity from the media chattering about the chaos-causing virus:
"We're in
unchartered waters right now!"
I wish that word had been unchattered!
