a. (sb.). [ad. L. comparātīv-us of or pertaining to comparison, f. comparāt- ppl. stem of comparā-re: see -IVE. Cf. F. comparatif, -ive.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to comparison; that compares or involves comparison.
1602. Fulbecke, 2nd Pt. Parallel, Ded. 1. A comparatiue discourse of the lawes.
1754. Edwards, Freed. Will, II. x. 91. An Act of Choice or Preference is a comparative Act, wherein the Mind acts with Reference to … Things that are compared.
1845. G. E. Day, trans. Simon’s Anim. Chem., I. 214. The comparative analyses of the blood of the hepatic vein and of the vena portæ.
1875. Maine, Hist. Inst., i. 18. The Comparative method of investigation.
b. spec. Involving comparison of different branches of a science or subject of study; as comparative anatomy, philology, etc. So comparative anatomist, one versed in comparative anatomy.
1675. Grew (title), Comparative Anatomy of the Trunks of Plants.
1765. J. Gregory, Compar. View, § 1 (R.). The comparative anatomy of brute animals.
1855. Owen, Skel. & Teeth, 296. The species restored by Cuvier from fossil remains…. The great comparative anatomist called it anoplotherium.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. ix. 357. Belong less to the province of the historian than to that of the comparative mythologist.
1872. O. W. Holmes, Poet Breakf.-t., vi. 175. You must have comparative theology as you have comparative anatomy.
1882. Times, 18 March, 4/5. Comparative art history was in as primitive a stage as comparative philology.
2. Gram. Applied to that derived form of an adjective or adverb used, in comparing two objects of thought, to express a higher degree of the quality or attribute denoted by the simple word, as tru-er, often-er (or to the periphrasis used in the same sense, as more true, more often); the adjective or adverb being then said to be in the comparative degree. Cf. COMPARISON, POSITIVE.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 161. Envye Be twyx them tweyn owyth no more to be Than is be twyn a posatyve and a comparatyve degre.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., B iiij. The comparatiue exceedeth the positiue.
1669. Milton, Lat. Gram. There be two degrees above the positive word itself, The comparative, and superlative.
1824. L. Murray, Eng. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 397. If the members in comparative sentences are short.
1876. Mason, Eng. Gram. (ed. 21), 37. The Comparative Degree of an adjective is that form of it by means of which we show that one thing, or set of things, possesses a certain quality or attribute in a greater degree than another thing, or set of things.
3. Estimated by comparison; considered as compared with something else.
1597. Bacon, Coulers Good & Evil, vi. (Arb.), 147. The … blossome is a positiue good, although the remoue of it to giue place to the fruite be a comparatiue good.
1746. Jortin, Disc. Truth Chr. Relig., iv. (R.). The Christian institution ought to take place of the Mosaic upon account of the comparative weakness and unprofitableness of the first covenant.
1821. Craig, Lect. Drawing, ii. 109. The different processes of painting, and their comparative advantages.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 28. The comparative claims of pleasures and wisdom.
b. In mod. use often denoting a slighter or imperfect degree of the quality, condition, etc., spoken of: That is such when compared with something else implied or thought of; not positive or absolute; relative. (Cf. COMPARATIVELY 2 b.)
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VI. 345. This comparative neglect of food … found in all the tribes of fresh water fishes.
1838. Lytton, Alice, 36. It is scarcely right … to commit Evelyn to the care of comparative strangers.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 31. A matter of comparative indifference.
1877. Lady Brassey, Voy. Sunbeam, xiv. I sat out in the open air in comparative comfort.
† 4. ‘Quick at comparisons’ (Schmidt). humorous. Cf. COMPARISON 3 b.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. ii. 90. Thou … art indeed the most comparatiue rascallest sweet yong Prince.
† 5. ? Serving as a means of comparison. Obs.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., II. iii. 134. Thou wer’t dignified enough … if ’twere made Comparatiue for your Vertues, to be stil’d The vnder Hangman of his Kingdome. [But perhaps this is 6.]
† 6. Comparable, worthy to be compared. Obs.
1632. Sir R. Le Grys, trans. Velleius Paterculus, 159 (desc. of ch.). Lucullus his character, comparative with the disposition of Pompey.
1686. J. Serjeant, Hist. Monast. Convent., 54. Their Apparel being comparative to that of the Dominicans, or Prædicants.
1773. J. Ross, Fratricide (MS.), II. 614. Beholding all in tears, and Adam stretch’d So on his Couch, comparative with death.
1819. Byron, Juan, II. cxxxvii. None Had suffer’d more;—his hardships were comparative To those related in my grandad’s Narrative.
† 7. In competition or rivalry. Obs.
1654. trans. Scudery’s Curia Polit., 117. I never suffered my pront and advantage to be competitors, or comparative with my glory and renown.
B. sb.
1. Gram. The comparative degree (see A. 2); an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree.
1530. Palsgr., Introd. 28. We and the latines forme our comparatives and superlatyves out of our posytives.
1612. Brinsley, Pos. Parts (1669), 18. Q. How many degrees of Comparison are there?
A. Three, the Positive, the Comparative, and the Superlative.
1680. Filmer, Patriarchs, II. § 15. In the comparative I maintain the mischiefs to a State to be less universal under a tyrant king.
1765. W. Ward, Ess. Gram., 346. Some comparatives form a superlative by adding most to their end; as nether, i. e. lower, nethermost; [etc.].
1873. Morris, Hist. Outl. Eng. Accid., 107. Older and oldest are the ordinary comparatives now in use.
† 2. A thing or person to be compared; a compeer, rival. Obs.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron. Proem, xiii. Lyonell … Kyng should haue been … without comparatyfe.
c. 1611. Beaum. & Fl., 4 Plays, Tr. Love, iv. Gerrard ever was His full comparative: My uncle loves him, As he loves Ferdinand.
† 3. One ready to make comparisons: cf. A. 4. But the Shakespeare quot. is doubtful and may well belong to 2.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. ii. 67. To laugh at gybing Boyes, and stand the push Of euery Beardlesse vaine Comparatiue.
1823. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. xxiii. (1865), 180. No rascally comparative insults a Beggar, or thinks of weighing purses with him.
