# Laudative

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{{Short description|Terms conveying positivity}}
{{Wiktionary|laudative}}
'''Laudatives''' (from [Latin](/source/Latin) ''laudare'' "to praise") are words or grammatical forms that denote a positive [affect](/source/Affect_(linguistics)). That is, they express praise or approval on the part of the speaker. 

The Spanish [augmentative](/source/augmentative) suffix ''-azo'' has laudative uses, such as ''cuerp'''azo''''' "great body", though it also has pejorative uses such as ''cabron'''azo''''' "major asshole." 

[Mansi](/source/mansi_language) has a suffix ''-ke'' that functions as both a [diminutive](/source/diminutive) and a laudative, as in ''saali'''ke''''' "good little reindeer", ''low'''ke''' X'' "ten good X", ''toti'''ke''''' "he carries (it) with pleasure".<ref>Martin Haspelmath, ed. (2001) ''Language Typology and Language Universals'', vol. 1, p. 675.</ref>

Laudatory words are rare in English compared to [pejorative](/source/pejorative) ones,{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} though there are a few, such as "steed" for a fine horse.  More common is laudative use of metaphor, such as calling a helpful person a "saint" or fine food "ambrosia".  Intonation may convey a laudative affect, as in "What a house!" said with an air of wonder. 

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{slang-stub}}

Category:Linguistics
Category:Figures of speech
Category:Etymology

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