| 释义 |
comparative, a. (n.)|kəmˈpærətɪv|
[ad. L. comparātīv-us of or pertaining to comparison, f. comparāt- ppl. stem of comparā-re: see -ive. Cf. F. comparatif, -ive.]
A. adj.
1. a. Of or pertaining to comparison; that compares or involves comparison.
1602W. Fulbecke 2nd Pt. Parallel Ded. 1 A comparatiue discourse of the lawes. 1754Edwards Freed. Will ii. x. 91 An Act of Choice or Preference is a comparative Act, wherein the Mind acts with Reference to..Things that are compared. 1845G. E. Day tr. Simon's Anim. Chem. I. 214 The comparative analyses of the blood of the hepatic vein and of the vena portæ. 1875Maine Hist. Inst. i. 18 The Comparative method of investigation.
b. spec. Involving comparison of different branches of a science or subject of study; as comparative anatomy, comparative philology, etc. So comparative anatomist, one versed in comparative anatomy.
1675Grew (title), Comparative Anatomy of the Trunks of Plants. 1765J. Gregory Compar. View §1 (R.) The comparative anatomy of brute animals. 1855Owen Skel. & Teeth 296 The species restored by Cuvier from fossil remains..The great comparative anatomist called it anoplotherium. 1868Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) II. ix. 357 Belong less to the province of the historian than to that of the comparative mythologist. 1872O. W. Holmes Poet Breakf.-t. vi. 175 You must have comparative theology as you have comparative anatomy. 1882Times 18 Mar. 4/5 Comparative art history was in as primitive a stage as comparative philology.
2. Gram. Applied to that derived form of an adjective or adverb used, in comparing two objects of thought, to express a higher degree of the quality or attribute denoted by the simple word, as tru-er, often-er (or to the periphrasis used in the same sense, as more true, more often); the adjective or adverb being then said to be in the comparative degree. Cf. comparison, positive.
1447O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 161 Envye Be twyx them tweyn owyth no more to be Than is be twyn a posatyve and a comparatyve degre. 1591Percivall Sp. Dict. B iiij, The comparatiue exceedeth the positiue. 1669Milton Lat. Gram., There be two degrees above the positive word itself, The comparative, and superlative. 1824L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 397 If the members in comparative sentences are short. 1876Mason Eng. Gram. (ed. 21) 37 The Comparative Degree of an adjective is that form of it by means of which we show that one thing, or set of things, possesses a certain quality or attribute in a greater degree than another thing, or set of things.
3. a. Estimated by comparison; considered as compared with something else.
1597Bacon Coulers Good & Evil vi. (Arb.) 147 The..blossome is a positiue good, although the remoue of it to giue place to the fruite be a comparatiue good. 1746Jortin Disc. Truth Chr. Relig. iv. (R.), The Christian institution ought to take place of the Mosiac upon account of the comparative weakness and unprofitableness of the first covenant. 1821Craig Lect. Drawing ii. 109 The different processes of painting, and their comparative advantages. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 28 The comparative claims of pleasures and wisdom.
b. In mod. use often denoting a slighter or imperfect degree of the quality, condition, etc., spoken of: That is such when compared with something else implied or thought of; not positive or absolute; relative. (Cf. comparatively 2 b.)
1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VI. 345 This comparative neglect of food..found in all the tribes of fresh water fishes. 1838Lytton Alice 36 It is scarcely right..to commit Evelyn to the care of comparative strangers. 1875Jevons Money (1878) 31 A matter of comparative indifference. 1877A. Brassey Voy. Sunbeam xiv, I sat out in the open air in comparative comfort.
†4. ‘Quick at comparisons’ (Schmidt). humorous. Cf. comparison 3 b.
1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. ii. 90 Thou..art indeed the most comparatiue rascallest sweet yong Prince.
†5. ? Serving as a means of comparison. Obs.
1611Shakes. Cymb. ii. iii. 134 Thou wer't dignified enough..if 'twere made Comparatiue for your Vertues, to be stil'd The vnder Hangman of his Kingdome. [But perhaps this is 6.]
†6. Comparable, worthy to be compared. Obs.
1632Sir R. Le Grys Velleius 159. 1686 J. Serjeant Hist. Monast. Convent. 54 Their Apparel being comparative to that of the Dominicans, or Prædicants. 1773J. Ross Fratricide (MS.) ii. 614 Beholding all in tears, and Adam stretch'd So on his Couch, comparative with death. 1819Byron Juan ii. cxxxvii, None Had suffer'd more;—his hardships were comparative To those related in my grandad's Narrative.
†7. In competition or rivalry. Obs.
1654tr. Scudery's Curia Polit. 117, I never suffered my profit and advantage to be competitors, or comparative with my glory and renown.
8. Comb., as comparative-historical a., both comparative (sense 1 b) and historical; using comparative methods for historical investigation.
1937J. Orr tr. Iordan's Introd. Romance Ling. iv. 309 Material which is the product of comparative-historical research. 1964I. L. Horowitz New Sociol. 22 What is quite clearly needed to make a comparative-historical sociology professional.
B. n.
1. Gram. The comparative degree (see A. 2); an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree.
1530Palsgr. Introd. 28 We and the latines forme our comparatives and superlatyves out of our posytives. 1612Brinsley Pos. Parts (1669) 18. 1680 Filmer Patriarchs ii. §15 In the comparative I maintain the mischiefs to a State to be less universal under a tyrant king. 1765W. Ward Ess. Gram. 346 Some comparatives form a superlative by adding most to their end, as nether, i.e. lower, nethermost, etc. 1873Morris Hist. Outl. Eng. Accid. 107 Older and oldest are the ordinary comparatives now in use.
†2. A thing or person to be compared; a compeer, rival. Obs.
c1470Harding Chron. Proem xiii, Lyonell..Kyng should haue been..without comparatyfe. c1611Beaum. & Fl. 4 Plays, Tr. Love iv, Gerrard ever was His full comparative: My uncle loves him, As he loves Ferdinand.
†3. One ready to make comparisons: cf. A. 4.
But the Shakespeare quot. is doubtful and may well belong to 2.
1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. ii. 67 To laugh at gybing Boyes, and stand the push Of euery Beardlesse vaine Comparatiue. 1823Lamb Elia Ser. i. xxiii. (1865) 180 No rascally comparative insults a Beggar, or thinks of weighing purses with him. |