Comparative

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Comparative \Com*par"a*tive\, n. (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.
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           In comparatives is expressed a relation of two; as in
           superlatives there is a relation of many. --Angus.
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     2. An equal; a rival; a compeer. [Obs.]
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              Gerard ever was
              His full comparative.                 --Beau. & Fl.
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     3. One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit. [Obs.]
        "Every beardless vain comparative." --Shak.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Comparative \Com*par"a*tive\, a. [L. comparativus: cf. F.
     comparatif.]
     1. Of or pertaining to comparison. "The comparative faculty."
        --Glanvill.
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     2. Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the
        comparative sciences; the comparative anatomy.
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     3. Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or
        absolute, as compared with another thing or state.
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              The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.
                                                    --Whewell.
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              The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to
              the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend
              to the top.                           --Bentley.
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     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.
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     {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}.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  comparative
       adj 1: relating to or based on or involving comparison;
              "comparative linguistics"
       2: having significance only in relation to something else; "a
          comparative newcomer"
       n : the comparative form of an adjective; "`better' is the
           comparative of `good'"

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  33 Moby Thesaurus words for "comparative":
     affinitive, analogical, analogous, appertaining, approximate,
     associative, collatable, commensurable, commensurate, comparable,
     congenial, connective, correlative, en rapport, equivalent, like,
     linking, matchable, much at one, near, parallel, pertaining,
     pertinent, proportionable, proportional, proportionate, referable,
     referring, relating, relational, relative, similar, sympathetic