Part 2174

<hw>Com*par"a*tive</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Gram.)</fld> <def>The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, the form by which the comparative degree is expressed; <as>as, <ex>stronger</ex>, <ex>wiser</ex>, <ex>weaker</ex>, <ex>wore stormy</ex>, <ex>less windy</ex>, are all <ex>comparatives</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>In <b>comparatives</b> is expressed a relation of two; as in superlatives there is a relation of many. <i><?/ngus.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An equal; a rival; a compeer.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Gerard ever was His full <b>comparative</b>. <i>Beau. & Fl.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> "Every beardless vain <i>comparative</i>."

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Comparatively</h1> <Xpage=287>

<hw>Com*par"a*tive*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>According to estimate made by comparison; relatively; not positively or absolutely.</def>

<blockquote>With but <b>comparatively</b> few exceptions. <i>Prescott.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Comparator</h1> <Xpage=287>

<hw>Com"pa*ra`tor</hw> <tt>(? &or; ?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L., a comparater.]</ety> <fld>(Physics)</fld> <def>An instrument or machine for comparing anything to be measured with a standard measure; -- applied especially to a machine for comparing standards of length.</def>

<h1>Compare</h1> <Xpage=287>

<hw>Com*pare"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Compared</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Comparing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[L.<ets>comparare</ets>, fr. <ets>compar</ets> like or equal to another; <ets>com-</ets> + <ets>par</ets> equal: cf. F. <ets>comparer</ets>. See <er>Pair</er>, <er>Peer</er> an equal, and cf. <er>Compeer</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To examine the character or qualities of, as of two or more persons or things, for the purpose of discovering their resemblances or differences; to bring into comparison; to regard with discriminating attention.</def>

<blockquote><b>Compare</b> dead happiness with living woe. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The place he found beyond expression bright, <b>Compared</b> with aught on earth. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote><b>Compare</b> our faces and be judge yourself. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>To <b>compare</b> great things with small. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration; to liken.</def>

<blockquote>Solon <b>compared</b> the people unto the sea, and orators and counselors to the winds; for that the sea would be calm and quiet if the winds did not trouble it. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Gram.)</fld> <def>To inflect according to the degrees of comparison; to state positive, comparative, and superlative forms of; as, most adjectives of one syllable are <ex>compared</ex> by affixing "-er" and "-est" to the positive form; <as>as, <ex>black</ex>, <ex>blacker</ex>, <ex>blackest</ex></as>; those of more than one syllable are usually <i>compared</i> by prefixing "more" and "most", or "less" and "least", to the positive; <as>as, <ex>beautiful</ex>, <ex>more beautiful</ex>, <ex>most beautiful</ex></as>.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- To <er>Compare</er>, <er>Compare with</er>, <er>Compare to</er>.</syn> <usage> Things are compared <i>with</i> each other in order to learn their relative value or excellence. Thus we compare Cicero <i>with</i> Demosthenes, for the sake of deciding which was the greater orator. One thing is compared <i>to</i> another because of a real or fanciful likeness or similarity which exists between them. Thus it has been common to compare the eloquence of Demosthenes <i>to</i> a thunderbolt, on account of its force, and the eloquence of Cicero <i>to</i> a conflagration, on account of its splendor. Burke compares the parks of London <i>to</i> the lungs of the human body.</usage>

<h1>Compare</h1> <Xpage=287>

<hw>Com*pare"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To be like or equal; to admit, or be worthy of, comparison; <as>as, his later work does not <ex>compare</ex> with his earlier</as>.</def>

<blockquote>I should <b>compare</b> with him in excellence. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To vie; to assume a likeness or equality.</def>

<blockquote>Shall pack horses . . . <b>compare</b> with C\'91sars? <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Compare</h1> <Xpage=287>

<hw>Com*pare"</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Comparison.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>