a. [a. F. comparable, ad. L. comparābil-is, f. comparā-re to COMPARE: see -BLE.]
1. Able to be compared, capable of comparison (with).
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, II. lviii. (1859), 56. Bytwene the and me this maner of lykenes is not comparable.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 495 b. Many … in all respectes comparable with you.
1636. Healey, Theophrastus, To Rdr. The French is … yet in no degree comparable with the learned languages.
1870. Bowen, Logic, iv. 64. The Marks … by means of which it is comparable … with other things.
1881. Lockyer in Nature, No. 614. 324. In this way we insure a considerable number or absolutely comparable observations.
2. Worthy of comparison; proper, or fit to be compared; to be compared (to).
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 388/1. None comparable to hyr in wytte and wysdom.
c. 1510. More, Picus, Wks. 27. Thou shalt no pleasure comparable finde To thinwarde gladnes of a vertuous minde.
1667. H. More, Disc. Faith (1713), 584. No Tradition can be of any comparable Authority to this.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xxxviii. 154. Some other mosques … not comparable in point of magnificence to this.
1856. P. E. Dove, Logic Chr. Faith, V. i. 301. This Holy Being has no comparable antagonist.
Hence Comparableness.
1731. In Bailey; whence in mod. Dicts.
