In the absolute superlative form:
The adjectives ending in -co, -go preserve the guttural sound of the letter c / g only when it is present in the masculine plural form. For example:
- amico / friendly—> masc. plur. amici —> absolute superlative amicissimo
- poco / little—> masc. plur. pochi —> absolute superlative pochissimo
The adjectives ending in -io preserve the i only when stressed
For example:
- pio / pious —> pronounced as: pìo—> absolute superlative piissimo
- leggendario / legendary —> pronounced as: leggendàrio —> absolute superlative leggendarissimo
Some adjectives ending in -ico, -fico, -volo adopt the suffix -entissimo (in all its forms)
For example:
- malèdico / slanderous —> abs. superlative maledicentissimo
- malefico / malefic —> absolute superlative maleficentissimo
- munifico / munificent —> absolute superlative munificentissimo
- benefico / beneficial —> absolute superlative beneficentissimo
- malevolo / malicious —> absolute superlative malevolentissimo
The adjective ampio has two absolute superlatives —> amplissimo (derived from the plural form ampli) and ampissimo (which is less used).
