comparative
Noun · AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Adjective (2)
- relating to or based on or involving comparison“comparative linguistics”“the comparative form of an adjective”Relating to comparison
- estimated by comparison; not absolute or complete“a relative stranger”Synonyms: relativeOpposite absoluteSimilar relational
Noun (1)
- 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’”Synonyms: comparative degreeType of adjective, adverb
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Noun degree of comparison
- Spanish
- comparativo
- French
- comparatif
- German
- Komparativ
- Italian
- comparativo
- Portuguese
- comparativo
- Russian
- сравни́тельная сте́пень sravnítelʹnaja stépenʹ
- Chinese
- 比较级 bǐjiàojí
- Japanese
- 比較級 hikakukyū
- Dutch
- vergrotende trap
- Polish
- stopień wyższy
16 more languages
- Swedish
- komparativ
- Greek
- συγκριτικός sygkritikós
- Korean
- 비교급 bigyogeup
- Hungarian
- középfok
- Portuguese (PT)
- comparativo
- Chinese (Trad.)
- 比較級 bǐjiàojí
- Breton
- derez-uheloc'h
- Catalan
- comparatiu
- Czech
- komparativ
- Estonian
- keskvõrre
- Finnish
- komparatiivi
- Icelandic
- miðstig
- Lithuanian
- aukštesnysis laipsnis
- Norwegian
- komparativ
- Serbo-Croatian
- komparativ
- Slovak
- komparatív
Adjective of or relating to comparison
- Spanish
- comparativo
- French
- comparatif
- German
- vergleichend
- Italian
- comparativo
- Portuguese
- comparativo
- Russian
- сравни́тельный sravnítelʹnyj
- Polish
- porównawczy
- Greek
- συγκριτικός sygkritikós
- Indonesian
- komparatif
- Hungarian
- összehasonlító
7 more languages
- Portuguese (PT)
- comparativo
- Catalan
- comparatiu
- Danish
- komparativ
- Finnish
- vertaileva
- Icelandic
- miðstig
- Norwegian
- komparativ
- Romanian
- comparativ
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. comparativus: cf. F. comparatif.
1. Of or pertaining to comparison. “The comparative faculty.” Joseph 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.— William Whewell
The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top.— Richard Bentley
4. Grammar 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.
Grammar 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.— Joseph Angus
2. An equal; a rival; a compeer. obsolete
Gerard ever was His full comparative.— Francis, & Fletcher, John. Beaumont
3. One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit. obsolete “Every beardless vain comparative.” William Shakespeare
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54