comparison
[kuh m-par-uh-suh n]
- the act of comparing.
- the state of being compared.
- a likening; illustration by similitude; comparative estimate or statement.
- Rhetoric. the considering of two things with regard to some characteristic that is common to both, as the likening of a hero to a lion in courage.
- capability of being compared or likened.
- Grammar.
- the function of an adverb or adjective that is used to indicate degrees of superiority or inferiority in quality, quantity, or intensity.
- the patterns of formation involved therein.
- the degrees of a particular word, displayed in a fixed order, as mild, milder, mildest, less mild, least mild.
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Origin of comparison
Synonyms
See more synonyms for comparison on Thesaurus.com5. likeness, resemblance, similarity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for comparison
Contemporary Examples
I enjoyed it, but thought it paled in comparison to their debut.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s GreatnessMarlow Stern
January 7, 2015
For comparison, inmates at high-security federal prisons cost about $34,000 per year on average, as of 2012.
I was quite specifically talking about the comparison between playing Heimdall on one day, and playing Mandela on the next.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave ChappelleMarlow Stern
December 6, 2014
In comparison, “Ring Off” is almost jarring in its more cooled down, island vibe.
Beyonce’s New “7/11” and “Ring Off” Will Give You Reason to Live (And Dance)Kevin Fallon
November 21, 2014
“That one photo down in the meeting room in the White House—absolutely,” Lawrence says of the comparison.
What ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1’ Has in Common with ISIS Videos and Killing Bin LadenMarlow Stern
November 16, 2014
Historical Examples
As one result of this, our Navy ranks larger, in comparison, than it ever did before.
The old woman encouraged him, and said he was still a young man in comparison with her.
Rico and WiseliJohanna Spyri
That is nothing at all in comparison with Rico's wedding in the 'Golden Sun.'
Rico and WiseliJohanna Spyri
By comparison Crane's visits to Ringwood were utopianly complacent.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
In comparison, the inconveniences to which Martin had been put seemed trifling.
DustMr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
comparison
- the act or process of comparing
- the state of being compared
- comparable quality or qualities; likenessthere was no comparison between them
- a rhetorical device involving comparison, such as a simile
- Also called: degrees of comparison grammar the listing of the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an adjective or adverb
- bear comparison or stand comparison to be sufficiently similar in class or range to be compared with (something else), esp favourably
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for comparison
n.
mid-14c., from Old French comparaison (12c.), from Latin comparationem (nominative comparatio), noun of action from past participle stem of comparare "make equal with, liken, bring together for a contest," literally "to couple together, to form in pairs," from com- "with" (see com-) + parare "prepare" (see pare).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper