13 The addition of a superlative suffix, however, does not necessarily produce a more offensive insult. It looks as though superlatives can be either more or less offensive than positives or can remain at the same level of strength
potentissimum — clarissimi] saepe Cicero cumulandis superlativis vim sententiae auget. Infra c. 25, 95: civis ii» oplimis rebus constantissimus M. Octavius. Inv. II. 8, 25: quam lenissime quietissimam ad partem explicanda. p. Milone 15, 40: cum — gravissimam adolescens nobilissimus rei piiblicae partem fortissime suscepisset. In Verr. Accus. II. 5, 14: ut — levissimi quidam ex miserrimis desertissimisque oppidis invenirentur.