English Explanatory Dictionary

comparative

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Of or relating to comparison.
  2. Using comparison as a method of study, or founded on something using it.
  3. Approximated by comparison; relative.
  4. Comparable; bearing comparison.
noun
  1. The degree of comparison of an adjective or adverb used when comparing two entities in terms of a certain property or a certain way of doing something. In English, the comparative of superiority is formed by adding the suffix -er or the word more (e.g. bigger, more fully); the comparative of equality, by adding the word as (e.g. as big, as fully); the comparative of inferiority, by adding the word less (e.g. less big, less fully).
  2. An adjective or adverb in the comparative degree.
  3. Data used to make a comparison.
  4. An equal; a rival; a compeer.
  5. One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.

Pronunciation

/kəmˈpæɹətɪv/ kəmʹpăr-ə-tĭv /kəmˈpɛɹətɪv/ en-us-ne-comparative.ogg En-us-comparative.ogg

Word forms

comparative more comparative most comparative comparatives

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Latin pār Latin compār Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin comparō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Latin comparātīvusbor. Old French comparatifbor. Middle English comparatif English comparative From Middle English comparatif, from Middle French comparatif, from Latin comparātīvus, equivalent to comparātus, from comparāre (“to compare”) + -ive, from Latin -īvus.

Synonyms

comparative degree

Related words

absolute superlative relative superlative comparative superlative contrastive elative

Derived words

comparatist comparatively comparativeness comparativism comparativist comparativistic macrocomparative noncomparative comparative advantage comparative anatomy comparative case comparative clause comparative degree comparative ethics comparative illusion comparative linguist comparative linguistics comparative literature comparative method comparative superlative absolute comparative comparative of equality comparative of inferiority comparative of superiority
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