LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Etimologija; Istorinė filologija; Jungtis; Laipsniavimas; Laipsnis; Leksikalizacija; Morfologija; Postpozicinė dalelytė; Priesaga; Sintaksė; Comparison; Copula; Degree; Etymology; Lexicalization; Morphology; Postponed particle; Suffix; Syntax, historical philology.
ENThe Lithuanian comparative suffix -iaũ(s), e.g. OLith. geriaus ‘better’ / Modern Lith. geriaũ, has risen from a postpositive contrastive focus particle -jaũ used in the function of ‘emphatic assertion of identity’ (see König 1991). A final consonant /-s/ in -iaũ-s is an etymologically heterogeneous element, appearing optionally in such lexemes as Lith. dial. nèt-s ‘even’ : nèt ‘even’