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Webster 1913 Edition

Comparative

Com-par′a-tive

,
Adj.
[L.
comparativus
: cf. F.
comparatif
.]
1.
Of or pertaining to comparison.
“The comparative faculty.”
Glanvill.
2.
Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison;
as, the
comparative
sciences; the
comparative
anatomy
.
3.
Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or absolute, as compared with another thing or state.
The recurrence of
comparative
warmth and cold.
Whewell.
The bubble, by reason of its
comparative
levity to the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top.
Bentley.
4.
(Gram.)
Expressing a degree greater or less than the positive degree of the quality denoted by an adjective or adverb. The comparative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -er, more, or less;
as, brighter,
more
bright, or
less
bright
.
Comparative sciences
,
those which are based on a comprehensive comparison of the range of objects or facts in any branch or department, and which aim to study out and treat of the fundamental laws or systems of relation pervading them; as,
comparative anatomy
,
comparative physiology
,
comparative philology
.

Com-par′a-tive

,
Noun.
(Gram.)
The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, the form by which the comparative degree is expressed;
as,
stronger
,
wiser
,
weaker
,
more stormy
,
less windy
, are all
comparatives
.
In
comparatives
is expressed a relation of two; as in superlatives there is a relation of many.
Angus.
2.
An equal; a rival; a compeer.
[Obs.]
Gerard ever was
His full
comparative
.
Beau. & Fl.
3.
One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.
[Obs.]
“Every beardless vain comparative.”
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Comparative

COMPARATIVE

, a.
1.
Estimated by comparison; not positive or absolute. The comparative weight of a body, is that which is estimated by comparing it with the weight of another body. A body may be called heavy, when compared with a feather, which would be called light, when compared with iron. So of comparative good, or evil.
2.
Having the power of comparing different things; as a comparative faculty.
3.
In grammar, expressing more or less. The comparative degree of an adjective expresses a greater or less degree of a quantity, or quality, than the positive; as brighter, or more bright; smaller; finer; stronger; weaker.
Comparative anatomy, that branch of anatomy which treats of the anatomy of other animals than man, with a view to compare their structure with that of human beings, and thus to illustrate the animal functions, and particularly with reference to a more perfect knowledge of the functions of several parts of the human body.

COMPARATIVE

,
Noun.
One who is equal or pretends to be an equal.

Definition 2024

comparative

comparative

English

Adjective

comparative ‎(comparative more comparative, superlative most comparative)

  1. Of or relating to comparison.
    • Granvill
      The comparative faculty.
  2. Using comparison as a method of study, or founded on something using it.
    comparative anatomy
  3. Approximated by comparison; relative.
    • 2016 October 24, Owen Gibson, “Is the unthinkable happening – are people finally switching the football off?”, in The Guardian, London:
      The Olympics, the weather and a comparative lack of heavyweight clashes so far this season have been cited as reasons for the drop in viewers.
    • Whewell
      The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.
    • Bentley
      The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that encloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top.
  4. (obsolete) Comparable; bearing comparison.
    • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, II.137:
      And need he had of slumber yet, for none / Had suffered more—his hardships were comparative / To those related in my grand-dad's Narrative.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

comparative ‎(plural comparatives)

  1. (grammar) A construction showing a relative quality, in English usually formed by adding more or appending -er. For example, the comparative of green is greener; of evil, more evil.
  2. (grammar) A word in the comparative form.
  3. (obsolete) An equal; a rival; a compeer.
    • Beaumont and Fletcher
      Gerard ever was / His full comparative.
  4. (obsolete) One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.

Synonyms

Translations

Related terms

See also

References

  • “comparative” in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
  • “comparative” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
  • "comparative" in WordNet 2.0, Princeton University, 2003.

French

Adjective

comparative

  1. feminine singular of comparatif

Italian

Adjective

comparative

  1. feminine plural of comparativo

Anagrams

Latin

Adjective

comparātīve

  1. vocative masculine singular of comparātīvus

References

Etymology

From Middle French comparatif, from Latin comparativus, equivalent to comparatus, from comparare ‎(“to compare”) + -ive, from Latin -ivus.

Pronunciation

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