comparison

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.The act of comparing; an examination of two or more objects with the view of discovering the resemblances or differences; relative estimate. [1913 Webster]

As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human beings can bear comparison with them.— Macaulay.[1913 Webster]

The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old Testament afford many interesting points of comparison.— Trench.[1913 Webster]

2.The state of being compared; a relative estimate; also, a state, quality, or relation, admitting of being compared; as, to bring a thing into comparison with another; there is no comparison between them. [1913 Webster]

3.That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as being equal or like; illustration; similitude. [1913 Webster]

Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it?— Mark iv. 30.[1913 Webster]

4.(Gram.) The modification, by inflection or otherwise, which the adjective and adverb undergo to denote degrees of quality or quantity; as, little, less, least, are examples of comparison. [1913 Webster]

5.(Rhet.) A figure by which one person or thing is compared to another, or the two are considered with regard to some property or quality, which is common to them both; e.g., the lake sparkled like a jewel. [1913 Webster]

6.(Phren.) The faculty of the reflective group which is supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts. [1913 Webster]

Beyond comparison, so far superior as to have no likeness, or so as to make comparison needless.

In comparison of, In comparison with, as compared with; in proportion to. [Archaic] "So miserably unpeopled in comparison of what it once was." --Addison.

Comparison of hands (Law), a mode of proving or disproving the genuineness of a signature or writing by comparing it with another proved or admitted to be genuine, in order to ascertain whether both were written by the same person. --Bouvier. --Burrill. [1913 Webster]