comparative

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
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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. (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

See also

References

Anagrams

French

Pronunciation
  • Audio(file)

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
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