Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
ABSOLUTE ADJECTIVES
(sometimes called incomparables, with stress on either the second or the third syllable) are those adjectives that cannot be or ought not to be compared because they stand for qualities that are not matters of degree; adjectives such as unique (meaning “one of a kind,” “the only one”), perfect, square, complete, and the like, as opposed to tall, dirty, and poor, which are relative qualities. The statement This object is more round than that one will usually evoke the conservative correction, “You mean more nearly round than that one.” Nevertheless, in all but the most Formal contexts our natural love for hyperbole and intensifiers often leads us to compare some adjectives that conservatives consider absolutes and would never put into comparative or superlative degree. Moreover, in one or another of their meanings nearly all adjectives, including some absolutes, can accept more or most in periphrastic comparative or periphrastic superlative use: Charlie Brown’s head is rounder [or more round] than anybody else’s. But uniquer/uniquest and more/most unique are shibboleths best avoided in other than humorous use. See ADJECTIVES (1).
