issimus

Issimus is the masculine singular form of a Latin superlative suffix, with the feminine -issima and the neuter -issimum. It is attached to the stem of adjectives to form the synthetic superlative, conveying the sense of “the most” or “very.”

Formation and variants: The suffix is productive for many Latin adjectives, yielding forms such as longus → longissimus (the longest), fortis → fortissimus (the bravest or strongest), and bonus → bonissimus (the very good, the best). In some stems phonological adjustments occur, for example pulcher becomes pulcherrimus, where a geminated consonant appears in the resulting form. The -issimus family coexists with other superlative patterns, including irregulars and periphrastic constructions using quam or forms like optimus and maximus, depending on meaning and style.

Usage: The -issimus form is common in Classical Latin for expressing maximum degree or emphasis. It appears across a range of adjectives, particularly those describing size, quality, or intensity. While often preferred for concise, vivid expression, it coexists with periphrastic or irregular superlatives in other semantic areas, and stylistic choice or metre can influence which form is used.

Legacy and reflexes in Romance languages: The Latin suffix -issimus contributed to the development of Romance superlatives in various languages. In Spanish and Portuguese, the corresponding suffix -ísimo (-ísima, -ísimos) is widely used to intensify adjectives, while Italian retains -issimo and related forms. The influence of -issimus extends to historical grammars and linguistic descriptions of Latin.

In summary, issimus denotes a productive Latin suffix that forms strong, emphatic superlatives from adjectives, with enduring influence on later Romance languages.