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▪ I. compare, n.1|kəmˈpɛə(r)|
Also 6 Sc. compair.
[a. F. compair compeer, q.v.; afterwards conformed to compare v.: see next.]
†1. An equal, rival, compeer. Obs.
1536Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) II. 138 The scule of Paris..has na compair in erd. c1585Faire Em i. 242 The envious man That dares avow there liveth her compare. 1608R. Johnson Sev. Champions 61 Penelopes compare for constancie. 1617Fletcher Valentinian iii. iii, Such a one that no compare dwelt with her.
†b. as adj. Equal, of equal standing. Obs. rare.
1533Bellenden Livy iv. (1822) 317 Thocht thay war nocht compare to you in linage nor blude.
2. The phrase without compare, and its analogues, app. originally belonged here = ‘without compeer’; but were afterwards referred to compare n.2 (if indeed they did not give rise to that word).
1621Lady M. Wroth Urania 155 [My love of her] was without compare, had hers not equald it. 1679Evelyn Mem. (1857) II. 142 The prospect and park, which is without compare. 1680Ibid. II. 154 Without any compare, the most beautiful creatures..in the world. 1709Strype Ann. Ref. I. 430 A prince..in every respect without compare.
▪ II. compare, n.2|kəmˈpɛə(r)|
[f. compare v.1; not improbably arising from a false analysis of such phrases as ‘without compare’ (see prec.).]
Comparison. Chiefly in beyond (past) compare.
1589Greene Poems Wks. (1861) 290 What need compare where sweet exceeds compare? a1592― Looking Glasse 122 Can any goddess make compare with me? c1600Shakes. Sonn. xxi, Making a coopelment of proud compare With Sunne and Moone, with earth and seas rich gems. 1604Marlowe, etc. Faust. Wks. (ed. Rtldg.) 98/2 Such a queen, Whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare. 1621Lady M. Wroth Urania 268 Excellent discourse, wit beyond compare. 1654Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 320 Nor are its churches anything considerable in compare to Oxford. 1667Milton P.L. vi. 705 That all may know..thy Power above compare. 1692Beverley Disc. Dr. Crisp 19 By a close and universal Compare of Scripture. 1711Hearne Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.) III. 176 His Piety and Sanctity was beyond Compare. 1815Scribbleomania 15 Hunger's a sauce, sir, that beggars compare. 1880R. Broughton Sec. Th. i. vi, Humbled, diminished past compare.
▪ III. compare, v.1|kəmˈpɛə(r)|
Also 4–5 Sc. comper.
[a. OF. compere-r (from 14th c. comparer) = Pr., Sp. comparar, It. comparare:—L. comparā-re lit. ‘to pair together, couple, match, bring together’, f. compar like, equal, f. com- + par equal.]
1. trans. To speak of or represent as similar; to liken. Const. to. (With negative, in such phrases as not to be compared to, usually implying great inferiority in some respect.)
1375Barbour Bruce i. 403 Off manheid and mekill mycht, Till Ector dar I nane comper. 1447O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 9 Seynt Margrete On to that gemme [may] weel comparyd be. 1538Starkey England 46 The one may..be comparyd to the body, and the other to the soule. 1611Bible Prov. iii. 15 All the things thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her. 1699W. Dampier Voy. II. i. vii. 125 He compares it to a Sloe, in shape and taste. 1855Prescott Philip II, I. i. iv. 46 He greatly offended the Flemings by comparing their ships to mussel-shells.
†b. to compare: (a thing) for one to compare, (a thing) to be compared, comparable (to, with).
1483Caxton G. de la Tour E v, Suche men and wymmen be to compare to the wyf of Loth. 1711Addison Spect. No. 160 ⁋9 An Imitation of the best Authors is not to compare with a good Original.
c. intr. To draw a comparison. rare.
1593Shakes. Rich. II, ii. i. 184 Or else he neuer would compare betweene.
2. trans. To mark or point out the similarities and differences of (two or more things); to bring or place together (actually or mentally) for the purpose of noting the similarities and differences. Const. with (or to) another; together.
1509Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) I. 219 Wylt thou heuyn compare with [t]his paynfull lyfe. a1533Frith Disput. Purgatory Pref. (1829) 92 Compare the Scriptures together which I have brought to confirm my purpose. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iii. xiv. (1651) 124 Whats..the world it self..if compared to the least visible Star in the Firmament? 1667Milton P.L. ii. 921 To compare Great things with small. 1710Steele Tatler No. 126 ⁋1, I stole looks at each Lady, as if I was comparing their Perfections. 1847Emerson Repr. Men, Montaigne Wks. (Bohn) I. 336 In England..property stands for more, compared with personal ability, than in any other [country]. 1860Tyndall Glac. ii. x. 283 To compare the motion of the eastern and western halves of the glacier. 1879G. C. Harlan Eyesight viii. 106 This cramping tendency of town as compared to country.
b. to compare notes (often fig.): to compare each other's observations or impressions; hence, to exchange views, confer, discuss.
1708S. Centlivre Busie Body i. (1709) 6 Over a Bottle we'll compare Notes. 1712Steele Spect. No. 423 ⁋2 They meet and compare Notes upon your Carriage. 1856Reade Never too late lxxxv, Everybody put questions to everybody, and all compared notes. 1886M. E. Braddon One Thing Needful iv, We will compare notes three years hence, and I hope I shall convince you that you were mistaken.
3. Gram. To form the comparative and superlative degrees of (an adjective or adverb). Cf. comparison.
1612Brinsley Pos. Parts (1669) 46 Adverbs coming of Nouns [= Adjectives] which are compared irregularly, do follow their manner of comparing. 1765W. Ward Ess. Gram. 347 Words of one syllable are usually compared by er, and est. 1824L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. vii. 177 Some adverbs are compared, thus; ‘Soon, sooner, soonest’..Those ending in ly, are compared by more, and most.
4. a. refl.
1470–85Malory Arthur viii. xi, Whanne the kynge sawe hym al redy armed..the kynge said nay Tramtryst hit wille not auaile to compare the ageynst me.
b. intr. (for refl.) To be compared; to bear comparison; to vie with, rival.
c1450Merlin xx. 317 Thei ben so fewe that thei may not compare with hem. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 167 In daintinesse and goodnesse of meat, the [turkey] Hennes may compare with either the goose, or the Pehen, and the Cocke farre excell them. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. v. 29 Art, stryving to compayre With Nature. 1796Macneill Will & Jean Poems (1844) 65 Wha wi' Jeanie could compare? 1876Jevons Logic Prim. 8 As athletes men cannot for a moment compare with horses or tigers or monkeys. Mod. This compares favourably with the inertness of England. A landscape which will compare not unfavourably with the masterpieces of the Dutch School.
▪ IV. † compare, v.2 Obs. rare.
[ad. L. comparāre, f. com- together + parāre to get ready, provide, furnish, prepare; cf. OF. comparer, comperer, comprer, to purchase, acquire. But the proper place of sense 2 is doubtful.]
1. trans. To get, obtain, acquire.
1532Thynne Chaucer's Wks. Ded., The glorie hertofore compared and adquired by dyvers princes. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. iv. 28 Both from backe and belly still did spare, To fill his bags, and richesse to compare.
2. To set forth, allege.
1536Narr. Pilgr. of Grace in Eng. Hist. Rev. Apr. (1890), By lyke lettre to the said erle comparing in the same the said order takin at Doncaster. Ibid. By comparing cause of newe comocions, supposed to be maid by the said Aske, wich was vntrew. |