comparative

comparative adjective

Comparative adjectives are adjectives that compare differences between the attributes of two nouns. These are often measurements, such as height, weight, depth, distance, etc., but they don’t have to be. We can also use comparative adjectives to compare non-physical characteristics.Continue reading...

com·par·a·tive

C0523600 (kəm-păr′ə-tĭv)adj.1. a. Relating to, based on, or involving comparison.b. Of or relating to the scientific or historical comparison of different phenomena, institutions, or objects, such as languages, legal systems, or anatomical structures, in an effort to understand their origins or relationships.2. Estimated by comparison; relative: a comparative newcomer.3. Grammar Of, relating to, or being the intermediate degree of comparison of adjectives, as better, sweeter, or more wonderful, or adverbs, as more softly.n. Grammar 1. The comparative degree.2. An adjective or adverb expressing the comparative degree.

com·par′a·tive·ly adv.Our Living Language Speakers of vernacular dialects often use double comparatives and superlatives such as more higher and most fastest. Although such constructions may seem redundant or even illogical, standard and nonstandard varieties of all languages are replete with such constructions. In English the redundant comparative dates back to the 1500s. Prior to this, in Old and Middle English, suffixes, rather than a preceding more or most, almost always marked the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs, regardless of word length. In the Early Modern English period (c. 1500-1800), more and most constructions became more common. The Modern English rule governing the distribution of -er/-est and more/most had not yet arisen, and such forms as eminenter, impudentest, and beautifullest occurred together with constructions like more near, most poor, and most foul. Double markings were commonly used to indicate special emphasis, and they do not appear to have been socially disfavored. Even Shakespeare used double comparatives and superlatives, as in Mark Antony's statement "This was the most unkindest cut of all" from Julius Caesar. Nowadays, although double comparatives and superlatives are not considered standard usage, they are kept alive in vernacular dialects. See Note at might², plural

comparative

(kəmˈpærətɪv) adj1. denoting or involving comparison: comparative literature. 2. judged by comparison; relative: a comparative loss of prestige. 3. (Grammar) 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 more. Compare positive¹⁰, superlative²n (Grammar) the comparative form of an adjective comˈparatively adv comˈparativeness n

com•par•a•tive

(kəmˈpær ə tɪv)

adj. 1. of or pertaining to comparison. 2. proceeding by, founded on, or using comparison as a method of study: comparative anatomy. 3. estimated by comparison; not positive or absolute; relative: to live in comparative luxury. 4. of or designating the intermediate degree of comparison of adjectives and adverbs, used to show an increase in quality, quantity, or intensity, as in smaller, better, and more carefully, the comparative forms of small, good, and carefully. Compare positive (def. 22), superlative (def. 2). n. 5. the comparative degree. 6. the comparative form of an adjective or adverb. [1400–50; late Middle English < Latin] com•par′a•tive•ly, adv. com•par′a•tive•ness, n.

Positive, comparative, superlative, - Positive is the ordinary form of a word, with comparative conveying a sense of greater intensity of the adjective and superlative reflecting the greatest intensity of the adjective.See also related terms for positive.

comparative

Used to describe an adjective or adverb comparing two things, for example, “brighter” or “more brightly.”

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	comparative - 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'"comparative degreeadjective - a word that expresses an attribute of somethingadverb - a word that modifies something other than a nounbetter - (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another; "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din"; "a better coat"; "a better type of car"; "a suit with a better fit"; "a better chance of success"; "produced a better mousetrap"; "she's better in math than in history"worse - (comparative of `bad') inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability; "this road is worse than the first one we took"; "the road is in worse shape than it was"; "she was accused of worse things than cheating and lying"better - (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness; "her health is better now"; "I feel better"more, more than - (comparative of `much' used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree; "more land"; "more support"; "more rain fell"; "more than a gallon"less - (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree; "of less importance"; "less time to spend with the family"; "a shower uses less water"; "less than three years old"more - (comparative of `many' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning greater in number; "a hall with more seats"; "we have no more bananas"; "more than one"fewer - (comparative of `few' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of; "fewer birds came this year"; "the birds are fewer this year"; "fewer trains were late"worse - (comparative of `ill') in a less effective or successful or desirable manner; "he did worse on the second exam"closer, nearer, nigher - (comparative of `near' or `close') within a shorter distance; "come closer, my dear!"; "they drew nearer"; "getting nearer to the true explanation"
Adj.	1.	comparative - relating to or based on or involving comparison; "comparative linguistics"
	2.	comparative - estimated by comparison; not absolute or complete; "a relative stranger"relative

comparative

adjective relative, qualified, by comparison, approximate The task was accomplished with comparative ease.

comparative

adjectiveEstimated by comparison:relative.

Translations

比较的比较级的

compare

(kəmˈpeə) verb1. to put (things etc) side by side in order to see to what extent they are the same or different. If you compare his work with hers you will find hers more accurate; This is a good essay compared with your last one.比较2. to describe as being similar to. She compared him to a monkey.比作3. to be near in standard or quality. He just can't compare with Mozart.相比comparable (ˈkompərəbl) adjective of the same kind, on the same scale etc. The houses were not at all comparable in size.可比较的comparative (kəmˈpӕrətiv) adjective1. judged by comparing with something else. the comparative quiet of the suburbs.比较的2. (of an adjective or adverb used in comparisons) between positive and superlative, as the following underlined words. a bigger book; a better man; Blacker is a comparative adjective; (also noun) What is the comparative of `bad'?比较级的comˈparatively adverbThis house was comparatively cheap.比较地comparison (kəmˈpӕrisn) noun (an act of) comparing. There's no comparison between Beethoven and pop music; Living here is cheap in comparison with London.比较

compare with is used to bring out similarities and differences between two things of the same type: He compared his pen with mine and decided mine was better .
compare to is used when pointing out a similarity between two different things: Stars are often compared to diamonds .

comparative

comparative adjective

com·par·a·tive

comparative

com•par•a•tive

comparative

comparative

comparative

compare

comparative

Synonyms for comparative

adj relative

Synonyms

Synonyms for comparative

adj estimated by comparison

Synonyms

Synonyms for comparative

noun the comparative form of an adjective or adverb

Synonyms

Related Words

adj estimated by comparison

Synonyms