more-expensive
Meaning
Comparative form of 'expensive'; having a higher cost or price.
Structure
Usage
The organic produce is often more-expensive than conventionally grown alternatives.
We decided against the more-expensive model due to budget constraints.
Renting in the city center is significantly more-expensive than in the suburbs.
Etymology
The word 'more-expensive' is a modern English compound formed by the standard grammatical rule for creating the comparative degree of polysyllabic adjectives. The base 'expensive' originates from Latin 'expendere', meaning 'to weigh out' or 'to pay', reflecting the ancient practice of weighing precious metals for payment. The comparative adverb 'more', of Germanic origin, is prefixed to indicate a greater degree. Thus, the literal construction 'more costly' directly and logically conveys its modern meaning of having a higher price relative to something else.
Analysis
- more: From Old English 'māra', comparative of 'micel' (great, much). Functions as a comparative adverb/adjective modifier. - expensive: From Medieval Latin 'expensivus', from Latin 'expendere' (to weigh out, pay). The morpheme 'ex-' (out) + 'pens-' (weigh, pay) + '-ive' (adjective-forming suffix). Functions as the base adjective meaning 'costly'.