comparative
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Related to comparative: comparative literature, Comparative advantage
comparative adjective
Comparative adjectives are adjectives that compare differences between the attributes of two nouns. These are often measurements, such as height, weight, depth, distance, etc., but they don’t have to be. We can also use comparative adjectives to compare non-physical characteristics.
com·par·a·tive
(kəm-păr′ə-tĭv)adj.
1.
a. Relating to, based on, or involving comparison.
b. Of or relating to the scientific or historical comparison of different phenomena, institutions, or objects, such as languages, legal systems, or anatomical structures, in an effort to understand their origins or relationships.
2. Estimated by comparison; relative: a comparative newcomer.
3. Grammar Of, relating to, or being the intermediate degree of comparison of adjectives, as better, sweeter, or more wonderful, or adverbs, as more softly.
n. Grammar
1. The comparative degree.
2. An adjective or adverb expressing the comparative degree.
com·par′a·tive·ly adv.
Our Living Language Speakers of vernacular dialects often use double comparatives and superlatives such as more higher and most fastest. Although such constructions may seem redundant or even illogical, standard and nonstandard varieties of all languages are replete with such constructions. In English the redundant comparative dates back to the 1500s. Prior to this, in Old and Middle English, suffixes, rather than a preceding more or most, almost always marked the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs, regardless of word length. In the Early Modern English period (c. 1500-1800), more and most constructions became more common. The Modern English rule governing the distribution of -er/-est and more/most had not yet arisen, and such forms as eminenter, impudentest, and beautifullest occurred together with constructions like more near, most poor, and most foul. Double markings were commonly used to indicate special emphasis, and they do not appear to have been socially disfavored. Even Shakespeare used double comparatives and superlatives, as in Mark Antony's statement "This was the most unkindest cut of all" from Julius Caesar. Nowadays, although double comparatives and superlatives are not considered standard usage, they are kept alive in vernacular dialects. See Note at might2, plural
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
comparative
(kəmˈpærətɪv)adj
1. denoting or involving comparison: comparative literature.
2. judged by comparison; relative: a comparative loss of prestige.
3. (Grammar) grammar denoting the form of an adjective that indicates that the quality denoted is possessed to a greater extent. In English the comparative form of an adjective is usually marked by the suffix -er or the word more. Compare positive10, superlative2
n
(Grammar) the comparative form of an adjective
comˈparatively adv
comˈparativeness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
com•par•a•tive
(kəmˈpær ə tɪv)adj.
1. of or pertaining to comparison.
2. proceeding by, founded on, or using comparison as a method of study: comparative anatomy.
3. estimated by comparison; not positive or absolute; relative: to live in comparative luxury.
4. of or designating the intermediate degree of comparison of adjectives and adverbs, used to show an increase in quality, quantity, or intensity, as in smaller, better, and more carefully, the comparative forms of small, good, and carefully. Compare positive (def. 22), superlative (def. 2).
n. 5. the comparative degree.
6. the comparative form of an adjective or adverb.
[1400–50; late Middle English < Latin]
com•par′a•tive•ly, adv.
com•par′a•tive•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also related terms for positive.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
comparative
Used to describe an adjective or adverb comparing two things, for example, “brighter” or “more brightly.”
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
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| Noun | 1. | comparative - the comparative form of an adjective or adverb; "`faster' is the comparative of the adjective `fast'"; "`less famous' is the comparative degree of the adjective `famous'"; "`more surely' is the comparative of the adverb `surely'" adjective - a word that expresses an attribute of something adverb - a word that modifies something other than a noun better - (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another; "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din"; "a better coat"; "a better type of car"; "a suit with a better fit"; "a better chance of success"; "produced a better mousetrap"; "she's better in math than in history" worse - (comparative of `bad') inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability; "this road is worse than the first one we took"; "the road is in worse shape than it was"; "she was accused of worse things than cheating and lying" better - (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness; "her health is better now"; "I feel better" more, more than - (comparative of `much' used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree; "more land"; "more support"; "more rain fell"; "more than a gallon" less - (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree; "of less importance"; "less time to spend with the family"; "a shower uses less water"; "less than three years old" more - (comparative of `many' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning greater in number; "a hall with more seats"; "we have no more bananas"; "more than one" fewer - (comparative of `few' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of; "fewer birds came this year"; "the birds are fewer this year"; "fewer trains were late" worse - (comparative of `ill') in a less effective or successful or desirable manner; "he did worse on the second exam" |
| Adj. | 1. | comparative - relating to or based on or involving comparison; "comparative linguistics" |
| 2. | comparative - estimated by comparison; not absolute or complete; "a relative stranger" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
comparative
adjective relative, qualified, by comparison, approximate The task was accomplished with comparative ease.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
comparative
adjectiveEstimated by comparison:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
دَرَجَة المُقارَنَهمُقارِن، مُشابِه
komparativpoměrnýstupňovací
forholdsviskomparativnogenlunderelativ
komparatiivisuhteellinenverrannollinenvertailevavertailumuoto
komparativ
középfokösszehasonlító
miðstigmiîstigsamanburîar-
比較級
komparatívkomparatívny
primerjalenprimernik
komparativ
göreceliüstünlük derecesi
comparative
[kəmˈpærətɪv]A. ADJ
1. (= relative) → relativo
before becoming famous she had lived in comparative obscurity → había vivido en relativa oscuridad antes de hacerse famosa
before becoming famous she had lived in comparative obscurity → había vivido en relativa oscuridad antes de hacerse famosa
2. [study] → comparativo, comparado
3. (Gram) → comparativo
B. N (Gram) → comparativo m
C. CPD comparative literature N → literatura f comparada
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
comparative
[kəmˈpærətɪv] adj [study] → comparatif/ive
(= relative) [safety, peace] → relatif/ive
a comparative stranger
She is a comparative stranger → Je la connais relativement peu.
a comparative stranger
She is a comparative stranger → Je la connais relativement peu.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
comparative
adj
religion, philology etc → vergleichend; comparative literature → vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft, Komparatistik f
the comparative form (Gram) → der Komparativ, die erste Steigerungsstufe
n (Gram) → Komparativ m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
comparative
[kəmˈpærətɪv]1. adj (freedom, luxury, cost) → relativo/a; (adjective, adverb) → comparativo/a; (study, literature) → comparato/a
she's a comparative stranger → la conosco relativamente poco
she's a comparative stranger → la conosco relativamente poco
2. n (Gram) → comparativo
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
compare
(kəmˈpeə) verb1. to put (things etc) side by side in order to see to what extent they are the same or different. If you compare his work with hers you will find hers more accurate; This is a good essay compared with your last one.
2. to describe as being similar to. She compared him to a monkey.
3. to be near in standard or quality. He just can't compare with Mozart.
comparable (ˈkompərəbl) adjective of the same kind, on the same scale etc. The houses were not at all comparable in size.
comparative (kəmˈpӕrətiv) adjective1. judged by comparing with something else. the comparative quiet of the suburbs.
2. (of an adjective or adverb used in comparisons) between positive and superlative, as the following underlined words. a bigger book; a better man; Blacker is a comparative adjective; (also noun) What is the comparative of `bad'?
comˈparatively adverbThis house was comparatively cheap.
comparison (kəmˈpӕrisn) noun (an act of) comparing. There's no comparison between Beethoven and pop music; Living here is cheap in comparison with London.
compare with is used to bring out similarities and differences between two things of the same type: He compared his pen with mine and decided mine was better .
compare to is used when pointing out a similarity between two different things: Stars are often compared to diamonds .
compare to is used when pointing out a similarity between two different things: Stars are often compared to diamonds .
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
comparative
a. comparativo-a.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012