comparative

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English

Etymology

From Middle English comparatif, from Middle French comparatif, from Latin comparātīvus, equivalent to comparātus, from comparāre (“to compare”) + -ive, from Latin -īvus.

Pronunciation

Adjective

comparative (comparative more comparative, superlative most comparative)

  1. Of or relating to comparison.
    • 1773, James Burnett, Of the Origin and Progress of Language:
      that kind of animals that have the comparative faculty, by which they compare things together, deliberate and resolve
    (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  2. Using comparison as a method of study, or founded on something using it.
    comparative anatomy
    • 1960 December, “Talking of Trains: The riding of B.R. coaches”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 705–706:
      After all, it is undeniable that the B.R. standard coach scored highly in comparative trials with other European railway vehicles on the Continent a few years ago, so that B.R. civil engineers must share responsibility for any defects in its behaviour over here.
  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.
    • 1837, William Whewell, History of the Inductive Sciences:
      The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.
    • 1692, Richard Bentley, A Confutation of Atheism:
      This 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

Multiword terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun

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Wikipedia

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. (chiefly in the plural) Data used to make a comparison.
    • 2010, Barry Smith, Introductory Financial Accounting and Reporting, page 171:
      Investment ratios are positive. Comparative or trend data are required to draw final conclusions. The absence of comparatives and trend data constrains the conclusions.
  4. (obsolete) An equal; a rival; a compeer.
  5. (obsolete) One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.

Synonyms

Translations

Related terms

See also

References

Anagrams

French

Pronunciation

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

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia