The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Comparative \Com*par"a*tive\, a. [L. comparativus: cf. F.
   comparatif.]
   1. Of or pertaining to comparison. "The comparative faculty."
      --Glanvill.
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   2. Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the
      comparative sciences; the comparative anatomy.
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   3. Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or
      absolute, as compared with another thing or state.
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            The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.
                                                  --Whewell.
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            The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to
            the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend
            to the top.                           --Bentley.
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   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.
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   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.
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