2. Singular
Case Masculine Neuter Feminine
Nominative - - -(u)
Accusative -ne - -e
Genitive -es -es -re
Dative -um -um -re
Instrumental -e -e
-re
Adjectives in Old English agree with the noun they
describe in case, gender, and number. There are
several variations on the general declension, but
overall, adjectives decline thus:
•Weak and Strong Declension
3. Plural
Case Masculine Neuter Feminine
Nominativ
e
-e -(u) -a, -e
Accusative -e -(u) -a, -e
Genitive -ra -ra -ra
Dative -um -um -um
Instrument
al
-um -um
-um
6. Comparatives and Superlatives
► The superlative degree ("most") was usually formed
by adding the suffix "-ost" to an adjective; but like
the normal positive degree, it was sometimes
declined weak and sometimes declined strong (see
the "Strong or Weak?" section above for more
information). For example:
► ƿīs ("wise") - ƿīsra ("wiser") - ƿīsost ("wisest")
► cræftiġ ("crafty, skilled") - cræftiġra ("craftier, more
skilled") - cræftigost ("craftiest, most skilled")
► hefiġ ("heavy, important") - hefiġra (""heavier, more
important") - hefigost ("heaviest, most important")
7. ► Some common adjectives undergo i-mutation in the
comparative and superlative, and have -est instead
of -ost as the superlative suffix. Examples are:
► eald ("old") - ieldra ("older") - ieldest ("oldest") (Note
the same mutation in archaic Modern English
"elder"/"eldest".)
► ġeong ("young") - ġingra ("younger") - ġingrest
("youngest")
► hēah ("high") - hīerra ("higher") - hīehst ("highest")
► strang ("strong") - strengra ("stronger") - strengest
("strongest")
► lang ("long") - lengra ("longer") - lengest ("longest")
8. ► Some adjectives formed their comparative and
superlative degrees irregularly, and need to be
memorized:
► gōd ("good") - betera ("better") - betst ("best")
► yfel ("bad, evil") - ƿirsa ("worse") - ƿirst ("worst")
► lytel ("little, small") - læssa ("smaller, less") - læst
► miċel ("much, great") - māra ("more, greater") -
mǣst ("most, greatest")