What does comparative adjective mean

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.

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.

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

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

adj

1. 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, superlative2

n

(Grammar) the comparative form of an adjective

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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).

5. the comparative degree.

6. the comparative form of an adjective or adverb.

[1400–50; late Middle English < Latin]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

See also related terms for positive.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Estimated by comparison:

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

دَرَجَة المُقارَنَهمُقارِن، مُشابِه

komparativpoměrnýstupňovací

forholdsviskomparativnogenlunderelativ

komparatiivisuhteellinenverrannollinenvertailevavertailumuoto

miðstigmiîstigsamanburîar-

komparativnoenlunderelativforholdsvis

göreceliüstünlük derecesi

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

[kəmˈpærətɪv] adj

(= relative) [safety, peace] → relatif/ivea comparative stranger

She is a comparative stranger → Je la connais relativement peu.

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

[kəmˈpærətɪv]

1. adj (freedom, luxury, cost) → relativo/a; (adjective, adverb) → comparativo/a; (study, literature) → comparato/a
she's a comparative stranger → la conosco relativamente poco

2. n (Gram) → comparativo

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

1. 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. vergelyk يُقارِن съпоставям comparar srovnat s, porovnat vergleichen sammenligne συγκρίνω, παραβάλλωcomparar võrdlema مقایسه کردن vertailla comparer לְהַשווֹת तुलना करना usporediti, uspoređivati, stupnjevati összehasonlít membandingkan bera saman comparare, paragonare 較べる 비교하다 (pa)lyginti salīdzināt banding vergelijkensammenlikne porównywać مقايسه كول، دتفاوت دڅرګندولو دپاره مقايسه كول: پرتله كول comparar a compara сравнивать porovnať primerjati porediti jämföra เปรียบเทียบ karşılaştırmak, kıyaslamak 比較 порівнювати موازنہ کرنا ، تقابل کرنا so sánh 比较

2. to describe as being similar to. She compared him to a monkey. vergelyk يُشبّـه сравнявам comparar přirovnat vergleichen sammenligne med παρομοιάζωcomparar võrdlema تشبیه کردن verrata comparer לְהַשווֹת समानता uspoređivati hasonlít menyamakan líkja/jafna við paragonare たとえる 비유하다 palyginti pielīdzināt samakan vergelijkensammenlikne med porównywać تشبی comparar a compara (cu) сравнивать prirovnať primerjati (z) uporediti likna vid เปรียบเทียบ benzetmek 比作 прирівнювати مشابہ قرار دینا ví 比作

3. to be near in standard or quality. He just can't compare with Mozart. hulle kan nie vergelyk word nie يُوازي، يُشَبِّه уподобявам comparar-se rovnat se vergleichen måle sig med; tåle sammenligning; ikke tåle sammenligning παραβάλλομαι, συγκρίνομαι compararse võrdlust (välja) kannatama قابل مقایسه بودن؛ در خور مقایسه بودن olla laadultaan vastaava se comparer לִדמוֹת मिलान može se uspoređivati sa felér vmivel, hasonlítható vmihez, vkihez menandingi standast samanburð við essere paragonato 似ている 비교하다 lygintis līdzināties tidak dapat dibandingkan vergelijkenmåle seg med, tåle sammenlikning medrównać się دتفاوت دڅرګندولو دپاره مقايسه كول: پرتله كول comparar-se a se compara сравнить rovnať sa primerjati se porediti se jämföra[s] เทียบเท่า kıyaslamak, kıyas kabul etmek 比得上 порівнятися سے قریب ، پہلو بہ پہلو đáng được so sánh 相比

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'? vergelykende دَرَجَة المُقارَنَه грам. сравнителен/сравнителна форма comparativo stupňovací steigernd komparativ; 2. grad συγκριτικόςcomparativo keskvõrre صفت تفضیلی komparatiivi comparatifמילת יחס सापेक्ष komparativ középfok komparatif miðstig comparativo 比較級の 비교급 lyginamasis (laipsnis) pārākā []; komparatīvs perbandingan vergelijkendkomparativwyższy تفضيلى صفت comparativo comparativ сравнительный komparatív; komparatívny primernik komparativ komparativ ที่เปรียบเทียบคำคุณศัพท์หรือคำนาม üstünlük derecesi 比較級的 вищого ступеня порівняння کی نسبت ، اوروں سے مقابلہ کر کے tương đối 比较级的

(an act of) comparing. There's no comparison between Beethoven and pop music; Living here is cheap in comparison with London. vergelyking مُقارَنَه сравнение comparação srovnání der Vergleich sammenligning σύγκρισηcomparación võrdlus قیاس؛ تشابه vertailu comparaison לְהָשווֹת तुलना usporedba összehasonlítás perbandingan samanburður paragone, confronto 比較 비교 (pa)lyginimas salīdzinājums perbandingan vergelijkingsammenlikningporównanie پرتله، مقايسه comparação comparaţie сравнение porovnanie primerjava poređenje jämförelse การเปรียบเทียบ karşılaştırma 比較 порівняння تقابل ، موازنہ sự so sánh 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 .

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