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A word in between "lesser" and "greater"

English Language & Usage Asked by anaximander on June 21, 2021

In many game systems (particularly fantasy or role-playing games), relative qualities or power levels are denoted by naming things using “lesser” or “greater”. For example, in Dungeons and Dragons 3.5, there are weapon augmentation crystals, that might be named

  • Least crystal of Arcane Steel
  • Lesser crystal of Arcane Steel
  • Greater crystal of Arcane Steel

etc.

It seems odd to me that there is a “least”, a “lesser”, and a “greater”, but nothing in the middle. It makes sense that a “lesser” object is lesser than the “greater” one, and vice versa, but it seems strange to not have something in the middle. Of course one could argue that the one in the middle needs no such qualifier, but I was wondering – is there a word that can stand alongside words such as “lesser” and “greater” to denote that something is the “regular” version?

I thought of “common”, but that strays into ideas of rarity, which is slightly different.

3 Answers

I think you are right when you say that it could be argued that 'the one in the middle' needs no qualifier. And that is likely what would be best. However, if you felt the need to emphasize its 'normality', so to speak, then I believe words such as standard, common, everyday, normal, conventional, or ordinary would suffice.

Correct answer by Daniel Brady on June 21, 2021

There are several metaphorical realms you should explore.

Go mathematical and you can select from medium, median, average.

Choose quality and you have standard, paradigm,

If height is your metaphor mezzanine, base camp, Appenine.

Or there's distance arrow-flight, middling, stone's-throw.

Answered by Hugh on June 21, 2021

Considering that Lesser, Greater, etc. are similar to prefixes it's possible that there's no need for a word in between “lesser” and “greater.” Instead of using a word in between, you could use the absence of any word. You would do this because words like lesser or greater show that it's a lesser or greater version of it so when it's the normal version there is no need to specify.

For example:

  • Lesser crystal of Arcane Steel
  • Crystal of Arcane Steel
  • Greater crystal of Arcane Steel

Other than that you could use the word "normal."

For example:

  • Lesser crystal of Arcane Steel
  • Normal Crystal of Arcane Steel
  • Greater crystal of Arcane Steel

Answered by Draco Rex on June 21, 2021

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