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more about comparative
comparative |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Comparative \Com*par"a*tive\, a. [L. comparativus: cf F. comparatif.] 1. Of or pertaining to comparison. ``The comparative faculty.'' --Glanvill. 2. Proceeding from or by the method of comparison; as the comparative sciences; the comparative anatomy. 3. Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or absolute, as compared with another thing or state. The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold. --Whewell. The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that incloses it would necessarily ascend to the top --Bentley. 4. (Gram.) Expressing a degree greater or less than the positive degree of the quality denoted by an adjective or adverb. The comparative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -er, more or less as brighter, more bright, or less bright. {Comparative sciences}, those which are based on a comprehensive comparison of the range of objects or facts in any branch or department, and which aim to study out and treat of the fundamental laws or systems of relation pervading them as {comparative anatomy}, {comparative physiology}, {comparative philology}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Comparative \Com*par"a*tive\, n. (Gram.) The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also the form by which the comparative degree is expressed; as stronger, wiser, weaker, more stormy, less windy, are all comparatives. In comparatives is expressed a relation of two as in superlatives there is a relation of many --Angus. 2. An equal; a rival; a compeer. [Obs.] Gerard ever was His full comparative. --Beau. & Fl 3. One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit. [Obs.] ``Every beardless vain comparative.'' --Shak. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: comparative adj 1: relating to or based on or involving comparison; "comparative linguistics" 2: having significance only in relation to something else; "a comparative newcomer" n : the comparative form of an adjective; "`better' is the comparative form of `good'"
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