Hypertext Webster Gateway: "comparison"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Comparison \Com*par"i*son\ (? or ?), n. [F. comparaison, L.
comparatio. See 1st {Compare}.]
1. The act of comparing; an examination of two or more
objects with the view of discovering the resemblances or
differences; relative estimate.

As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human
beings can bear comparison with them. --Macaulay.

The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old
Testament afford many interesting points of
comparison. --Trench.

2. The state of being compared; a relative estimate; also, a
state, quality, or relation, admitting of being compared;
as, to bring a thing into comparison with another; there
is no comparison between them.

3. That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as
being equal or like; illustration; similitude.

Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with
what comparison shall we compare it? --Mark iv. 30.

4. (Gram.) The modification, by inflection or otherwise,
which the adjective and adverb undergo to denote degrees
of quality or quantity; as, little, less, least, are
examples of comparison.

5. (Rhet.) A figure by which one person or thing is compared
to another, or the two are considered with regard to some
property or quality, which is common to them both; e.g.,
the lake sparkled like a jewel.

6. (Phren.) The faculty of the reflective group which is
supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts.

{Beyond comparison}, so far superior as to have no likeness,
or so as to make comparison needless.

{In comparison of}, {In comparison with}, as compared with;
in proportion to. [Archaic] ``So miserably unpeopled in
comparison of what it once was.'' --Addison.

{Comparison of hands} (Law), a mode of proving or disproving
the genuineness of a signature or writing by comparing it
with another proved or admitted to be genuine, in order to
ascertain whether both were written by the same person.
--Bouvier. --Burrill.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Comparison \Com*par"i*son\, v. t.
To compare. [Obs.] --Wyclif.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

comparison
n 1: examining resemblances or differences [syn: {comparing}]
2: relation based on similarities and differences
3: qualities that are comparable; "no comparison between the
two books"; "beyond compare" [syn: {compare}, {equivalence},
{comparability}]


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