Abstract
The article describes the superlative, hyperlative and elative use of formally possessive constructions in a number of Turkic languages from a comparative perspective, analyzing their structural and semantic types and pragmatic properties. Similar possessive superlative constructions are found all over Eurasia in languages belonging to various language families: they mostly express abstract (absolute) comparison of referred entities where their quantities are compared with a certain norm. One of the most unclear issues of possessive superlative constructions is their origin. They could have emerged as structural copies of corresponding Semitic Biblical expressions or as effect of language internal developments. The material of corresponding English and German non-canonical possessive constructions allows assuming that both factors have contributed to their emergence.