Also 6 Sc. compair. [a. F. compair COMPEER, q.v.; afterwards conformed to COMPARE v.: see next.]
† 1. An equal, rival, COMPEER. Obs.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), II. 138. The scule of Paris … has na compair in erd.
c. 1585. Faire Em, I. 242. The envious man That dares avow there liveth her compare.
1608. R. Johnson, Sev. Champions, 61. Penelopes compare for constancie.
1617. Fletcher, Valentinian, III. iii. Such a one that no compare dwelt with her.
† b. as adj. Equal, of equal standing. Obs. rare.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, IV. (1822), 317. Thocht thay war nocht compare to you in linage nor blude.
2. The phrase without compare, and its analogues, app. originally belonged here = ‘without compeer’; but were afterwards referred to COMPARE sb.2 (if indeed they did not give rise to that word).
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 155. [My love of her] was without compare, had hers not equald it.
1679. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), II. 142. The prospect and park, which is without compare. Ibid. (1680), II. 154. Without any compare, the most beautiful creatures … in the world.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. 430. A prince … in every respect without compare.
