Also 4–5 Sc. comper. [a. OF. compere-r (from 14th c. comparer) = Pr., Sp. comparar, It. comparare:—L. comparā-re lit. ‘to pair together, couple, match, bring together,’ f. compar like, equal, f. com- + par equal.]
1. trans. To speak of or represent as similar; to liken. Const. to. (With negative, in such phrases as not to be compared to, usually implying great inferiority in some respect.)
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 403. Off manheid and mekill mycht, Till Ector dar I nane comper.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 9. Seynt Margrete On to that gemme [may] weel comparyd be.
1538. Starkey, England, 46. The one may … be comparyd to the body, and the other to the soule.
1611. Bible, Prov. iii. 15. All the things thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. I. vii. 125. He compares it to a Sloe, in shape and taste.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. I. iv. 46. He greatly offended the Flemings by comparing their ships to mussel-shells.
† b. To compare: (a thing) for one to compare, (a thing) to be compared, comparable (to, with).
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, E v. Suche men and wymmen be to compare to the wyf of Loth.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 160, ¶ 9. An Imitation of the best Authors is not to compare with a good Original.
c. intr. To draw a comparison. rare.
1593. Shaks., Richard II., II. i. 184. Or else he neuer would compare betweene.
2. trans. To mark or point out the similarities and differences of (two or more things); to bring or place together (actually or mentally) for the purpose of noting the similarities and differences. Const. with (or to) another; together.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1874), I. 219. Wylt thou heuyn compare with [t]his paynfull lyfe.
a. 1533. Frith, Disput. Purgatory, Pref. (1829), 92. Compare the Scriptures together which I have brought to confirm my purpose.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. III. xiv. (1651), 124. Whats … the world it self … if compared to the least visible Star in the Firmament?
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 921. To compare Great things with small.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 126, ¶ 1. I stole looks at each Lady, as if I was comparing their Perfections.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Montaigne, Wks. (Bohn), I. 336. In England … property stands for more, compared with personal ability, than in any other [country].
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. x. 283. To compare the motion of the eastern and western halves of the glacier.
1879. Harlan, Eyesight, viii. 106. This cramping tendency of town as compared to country.
b. To compare notes (often fig.): to compare each other’s observations or impressions; hence, to exchange views, confer, discuss.
1708. Mrs. Centlivre, Busie Body, I. (1709), 6. Over a Bottle we’ll compare Notes.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 423, ¶ 2. They meet and compare Notes upon your Carriage.
1856. Reade, Never too late, lxxxv. Everybody put questions to everybody, and all compared notes.
1886. Miss Braddon, One Thing Needful, iv. We will compare notes three years hence, and I hope I shall convince you that you were mistaken.
3. Gram. To form the comparative and superlative degrees of (an adjective or adverb). Cf. COMPARISON.
1612. Brinsley, Pos. Parts (1669), 46. Adverbs coming of Nouns [= Adjectives] which are compared irregularly, do follow their manner of comparing.
1765. W. Ward, Ess. Gram., 347. Words of one syllable are usually compared by er, and est.
1824. L. Murray, Eng. Gram. (ed. 5), I. vii. 177. Some adverbs are compared, thus; ‘Soon, sooner, soonest.’… Those ending in ly, are compared by more, and most.
4. a. refl.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VIII. xi. Whanne the kynge sawe hym al redy armed … the kynge said nay Tramtryst hit wille not auaile to compare the ageynst me.
b. intr. (for refl.) To be compared; to bear comparison; to vie with, rival.
c. 1450. Merlin, xx. 317. Thei ben so fewe that thei may not compare with hem.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 167. In daintinesse and goodnesse of meat, the [turkey] Hennes may compare with either the goose, or the Pehen, and the Cocke farre excell them.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. v. 29. Art, stryving to compayre With Nature.
1796. Macneill, Will & Jean, Poems (1844), 65. Wha wi’ Jeanie could compare?
1876. Jevons, Logic Prim., 8. As athletes men cannot for a moment compare with horses or tigers or monkeys.
Mod. This compares favorably with the inertness of England. A landscape that will compare not unfavorably with the masterpieces of the Dutch School.
