Compare

Compare
Compare Com*pare", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Compared}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Comparing}.] [L.comparare, fr. compar like or equal to another; com- + par equal: cf. F. comparer. See {Pair}, {Peer} an equal, and cf. {Compeer}.] 1. 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. [1913 Webster]

Compare dead happiness with living woe. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The place he found beyond expression bright, Compared with aught on earth. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Compare our faces and be judge yourself. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

To compare great things with small. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. To represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration; to liken. [1913 Webster]

Solon compared 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. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

3. (Gram.) To inflect according to the degrees of comparison; to state positive, comparative, and superlative forms of; as, most adjectives of one syllable are compared by affixing ``- er'' and ``-est'' to the positive form; as, black, blacker, blackest; those of more than one syllable are usually compared by prefixing ``more'' and ``most'', or ``less'' and ``least'', to the positive; as, beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful.

Syn: To {Compare}, {Compare with}, {Compare to}.

Usage: Things are compared with each other in order to learn their relative value or excellence. Thus we compare Cicero with Demosthenes, for the sake of deciding which was the greater orator. One thing is compared to 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 to a thunderbolt, on account of its force, and the eloquence of Cicero to a conflagration, on account of its splendor. Burke compares the parks of London to the lungs of the human body. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:
(followed by with), , / (followed by to), , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Compare++ — is a useful auxiliary tool for programmers and Web developers. The tool can compare text files and folders quickly. It is useful to detect differences of codes and match.[1] In the review of Softsea in the June 2, 2010, Compare++ was awarded 5… …   Wikipedia

  • compare to — compare with, compare to 1. In general usage, these two constructions tend to be used interchangeably; AmE generally prefers to when there is a choice, whereas in BrE the choice is more evenly divided. A broad distinction in principle should be… …   Modern English usage

  • compare — [kəm per′] vt. compared, comparing [ME comparen < OFr comparer < L comparare < com , with + parare, to make equal < par: see PAR1] 1. to regard as similar; liken (to) [to compare life to a river] 2. to examine in order to observe or… …   English World dictionary

  • compare — ► VERB 1) (often compare to/with) estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between. 2) (compare to) point out or describe the resemblances of (something) with. 3) (usu. compare with) be similar to or have a specified… …   English terms dictionary

  • Compare — Com*pare , n. 1. Comparison. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] His mighty champion, strong beyond compare. Milton. [1913 Webster] Their small galleys may not hold compare With our tall ships. Waller. [1913 Webster] 2. Illustration by comparison; simile.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • compare to —  , compare with  These two can be usefully distinguished.  Compare to should be used to liken things, compare with to consider their similarities or differences. He compared London to New York means that he felt London to be similar to New York.… …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Compare — Com*pare , v. i. 1. To be like or equal; to admit, or be worthy of, comparison; as, his later work does not compare with his earlier. [1913 Webster] I should compare with him in excellence. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To vie; to assume a likeness or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • compare — late 14c., from O.Fr. comparer (12c., Mod.Fr. comparer), from L.L. comparare to liken, to compare (see COMPARISON (Cf. comparison)). To compare notes is from 1708. Related: Compared; comparing. Phrase without compare (attested from 1620s, but… …   Etymology dictionary

  • compare — compare, contrast, collate mean to set two or more things side by side in order to show likenesses and differences. Compare implies as an aim the showing of relative values or excellences or a bringing out of characteristic qualities, whether… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • comparé — comparé, ée [ kɔ̃pare ] adj. • de comparer ♦ Qui étudie les rapports entre plusieurs objets d étude. Anatomie comparée (des espèces différentes). Grammaire comparée, étudiant les rapports entre langues. Littérature comparée, étudiant les… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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