comparative
- of or relating to comparison.
- proceeding by, founded on, or using comparison as a method of study: comparative anatomy.
- estimated by comparison; not positive or absolute; relative: a comparative newcomer in politics; to live in comparative luxury.
- Grammar. being, noting, or pertaining to the intermediate degree of the comparison of adjectives, as better and more beautiful, the comparative forms of good and beautiful, and of adverbs, as nearer and more carefully, the comparative forms of near and carefully.Compare positive(def 21), superlative(def 2).
- the comparative degree.
- a form in the comparative.
Origin of comparative
Related Words for comparative
provisional, like, equivalent, relative, correlative, approaching, parallel, contingent, analogous, comparable, conditional, connected, corresponding, matching, metaphorical, near, qualified, related, restricted, similarExamples from the Web for comparative
Contemporary Examples of comparative
A third way to counter the negative stereotypes is to provide a bit of comparative historical context.
As a comparative study, it highlights the distinctively brutal features of American slavery.
Under the old system, only a comparative handful of members had any power.
Memo: The Aaron Sorkin Model of Political Discourse Doesn't Actually WorkMegan McArdle
April 23, 2013
As a comparative anatomist, MacLean viewed animal behaviors as evolutionary adaptations of the brain.
But we can move earlier to comparative effectiveness review—this is public money, after all, and it should be spent rationally.
Historical Examples of comparative
Garson contrived to present an aspect of comparative indifference.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
The night duty had been a time of comparative peace to Carlotta.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
They shouted at each other in the jingle with comparative cheerfulness.
The Secret AgentJoseph Conrad
To do this it will be necessary to refer to comparative ethnography.
The Truth About WomanC. Gasquoine Hartley
The comparative coolness of these rocks had served to revive him somewhat.
Two Thousand Miles BelowCharles Willard Diffin
comparative
- denoting or involving comparisoncomparative literature
- judged by comparison; relativea comparative loss of prestige
- 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 moreCompare positive (def. 10), superlative (def. 2)
- the comparative form of an adjective
Word Origin and History for comparative
mid-15c., from Middle French comparatif, from Latin comparativus "pertaining to comparison," from comparat-, past participle stem of comparare (see comparison). Originally grammatical; general sense is from c.1600; meaning "involving different branches of a subject" is from 1670s. Related: Comparatively.
comparative
A form of an adjective indicating a greater degree of the quality that the adjective describes. Better is the comparative form of good; faster is the comparative form of fast; bluer is the comparative form of blue; more charming is the comparative form of charming. (Compare superlative.)