comparative
/kəmˈparətɪv
/adjective
1Measured or judged by estimating the similarity or dissimilarity between one thing and another; relative: he returned to the comparative comfort of his own home...
- Dan has also some very good posts up on US-China trade relations and the comparative efficiency of knowledge-based economies.
- This issue is given more specific attention below in relation to the comparative design.
- But we trust while no blame is cast on the heroes of the day, there will be no allusion to any attempt to estimate the comparative services of that day in the spirit of a dispute which has lately arisen about it.
Synonyms
relative, qualified, modified;
in/by comparison
2Involving the systematic observation of the similarities or dissimilarities between two or more branches of science or subjects of study: comparative religion...
- Studying comparative religion, he developed an interest in Christian Science and converted.
- We didn't go out and study comparative religion, right?
- He studied English and comparative religion at the West Sussex Institute, followed by teacher training and other postgraduate studies.
3 Grammar (Of an adjective or adverb) expressing a higher degree of a quality, but not the highest possible (e.g. braver; more fiercely). Contrasted with positive, superlative.What I'm interested in is how the comparative adjective form wronger is pronounced.
3.1(Of a clause) involving comparison (e.g. he’s not as good as he was).Why didn't he just say so, instead of exposing himself to the Escherian complexities of the comparative construction?...
- The referent of the Mexican postmaster's comparative metaphor is itself left unspoken.
- The particle H serves to provide a disjunctive or comparative conjunction between separate ideas or convictions.
noun Grammar
1A comparative adjective or adverb.There is much silliness abroad on the ‘logic’ governing the use of comparatives and superlatives....
- As Geoff points out in his book, the/li r/at the end of ‘nuclear’ isn't at all unfamiliar to or difficult for speakers of English: comparatives like pricklier are unproblematic and show no inclination towards being reshaped.
- But the trouble is, comparatives don't always need a ‘second part’ introduced by ‘than’.
1.1 (the comparative) The middle degree of comparison.
Origin
Late Middle English (in sense 3 of the adjective): from Latin comparativus, from comparare 'to pair, match' (see compare).