Comparison

Comparison
Comparison Com*par"i*son (? or ?), n. [F. comparaison, L. comparatio. See 1st {Compare}.] 1. The act of comparing; an examination of two or more objects with the view of discovering the resemblances or differences; relative estimate. [1913 Webster]

As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human beings can bear comparison with them. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old Testament afford many interesting points of comparison. --Trench. [1913 Webster]

2. The state of being compared; a relative estimate; also, a state, quality, or relation, admitting of being compared; as, to bring a thing into comparison with another; there is no comparison between them. [1913 Webster]

3. That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as being equal or like; illustration; similitude. [1913 Webster]

Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? --Mark iv. 30. [1913 Webster]

4. (Gram.) The modification, by inflection or otherwise, which the adjective and adverb undergo to denote degrees of quality or quantity; as, little, less, least, are examples of comparison. [1913 Webster]

5. (Rhet.) A figure by which one person or thing is compared to another, or the two are considered with regard to some property or quality, which is common to them both; e.g., the lake sparkled like a jewel. [1913 Webster]

6. (Phren.) The faculty of the reflective group which is supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts. [1913 Webster]

{Beyond comparison}, so far superior as to have no likeness, or so as to make comparison needless.

{In comparison of}, {In comparison with}, as compared with; in proportion to. [Archaic] ``So miserably unpeopled in comparison of what it once was.'' --Addison.

{Comparison of hands} (Law), a mode of proving or disproving the genuineness of a signature or writing by comparing it with another proved or admitted to be genuine, in order to ascertain whether both were written by the same person. --Bouvier. --Burrill. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • comparison — comparison, contrast, antithesis, collation, parallel mean a setting of things side by side so as to discover or exhibit their likenesses and differences, especially their generic likenesses and differences. Comparison is often used as the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • comparison — 1. For comparison of adjectives, see adjective 3. 2. Comparison as the noun equivalent of compare is normally followed by with, not to, and this applies also to the expression by or in comparison: • By comparison with some of the 20 million tons… …   Modern English usage

  • comparison — [kəm par′ə sən] n. [ME < OFr comparaison < L comparatio < pp. of COMPARE] 1. a comparing or being compared; estimation of similarities and differences 2. sufficient likeness to make meaningful comparison possible; possibility of… …   English World dictionary

  • comparison — I noun alikeness, analogical procedure, analogy, association, balance, comparatio, comparative estimate, conlatio, contrast, correlation, equation, measurement, nearness, parallel, rapprochement, relative estimate, relative estimation,… …   Law dictionary

  • Comparison — Com*par i*son, v. t. To compare. [Obs.] Wyclif. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • comparison — mid 14c., from O.Fr. comparaison (12c.), from L. comparationem (nom. comparatio), noun of action from pp. stem of comparare make equal with, liken, bring together for a contest, lit. to couple together, to form in pairs, from com with (see COM… …   Etymology dictionary

  • comparison — [n] contrasting; corresponding allegory, analogizing, analogy, analyzing, association, balancing, bringing together, collating, collation, comparability, connection, contrast, correlation, discrimination, distinguishing, dividing, estimation,… …   New thesaurus

  • comparison — ► NOUN 1) the action or an instance of comparing. 2) the quality of being similar or equivalent …   English terms dictionary

  • comparison — n. 1) to draw, make a comparison 2) to hold up under comparison 3) to defy comparison 4) a favorable; unfavorable comparison 5) a comparison between; to, with (there is no comparison between them; she made a comparison of our literature to… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • comparison — com|pa|ri|son W2S3 [kəmˈpærısən] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(comparing)¦ 2¦(judgment)¦ 3¦(be like something)¦ 4 there s no comparison 5¦(grammar)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1.) ¦(COMPARING)¦[U] the process of comparing two or more people or things →↑compare, comparative ↑ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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