Part 394

2. The state of being compared; a relative estimate; also, a state, quality, or relation, admitting of being compared; as, to bring a thing into comparison with another; there is no comparison between them.

3. That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as being equal or like; illustration; similitude.

Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? Mark iv. 30.

4. (Gram.) The modification, by inflection or otherwise, which the adjective and adverb undergo to denote degrees of quality or quantity; as, little, less, least, are examples of comparison.

5. (Rhet.) A figure by which one person or thing is compared to another, or the two are considered with regard to some property or quality, which is common to them both; e.g., the lake sparkled like a jewel.

6. (Phren.) The faculty of the reflective group which is supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts.

Beyond comparison, so far superior as to have no likeness, or so as to make comparison needless. -- In comparison of, In comparison with, as compared with; in proportion to. [Archaic] "So miserably unpeopled in comparison of what it once was." Addison. -- Comparison of hands (Law), a mode of proving or disproving the genuineness of a signature or writing by comparing it with another proved or admitted to be genuine, in order to ascertain whether both were written by the same person. Bouvier. Burrill.

Com*par"i*son, v. t. To compare. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Com*part" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comparted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comparting.] [L. compartiri; com- + partiri, partire to share, pars, partis, part, share: cf. OF. compartir. See Part, v. t.] To divide; to mark out into parts or subdivisions. [R.]

The crystal surface is comparted all In niches verged with rubies. Glover.

Com`par*ti"tion (?), n. [LL. compartitio.] The act of dividing into parts or compartments; division; also, a division or compartment. [Obs.]

Their temples . . . needed no compartitions. Sir H. Wotton.

Com*part"ment (?), n. [F. compartiment, OF. compartir to divide. See Compart.] 1. One of the parts into which an inclosed portion of space is divided, as by partitions, or lines; as, the compartments of a cabinet, a house, or a garden.

In the midst was placed a large compartment composed of grotesque work. Carew.

2. (Shipbuilding) One of the sections into which the hold of a ship is divided by water-tight bulkheads.

Com*part"ner (?), n. See Copartner. [Obs.]

Com"pass (kŭm"pas), n. [F. compas, fr. LL. compassus circle, prop., a stepping together; com- + passus pace, step. See Pace, Pass.] 1. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course.

They fetched a compass of seven day's journey. 2 Kings iii. 9.

This day I breathed first; time is come round, And where I did begin, there shall I end; My life is run his compass. Shak.

2. An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an encircling wall.

3. An inclosed space; an area; extent.

Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass. Addison.

4. Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his eye; the compass of imagination.

The compass of his argument. Wordsworth.

5. Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; -- used with within.

In two hundred years before (I speak within compass), no such commission had been executed. Sir J. Davies.

6. (Mus.) The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or instrument.

You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass. Shak.