com·par·a·tive (k m-p r -t v)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. com·par a·tive·ly adv.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, in reality both 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. In fact, 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 Notes at might2, plural, redundancy. |
comparative [kəmˈpærətɪv]
adj
1. denoting or involving comparison comparative literature
2. judged by comparison; relative a comparative loss of prestige
3. (Linguistics / 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 positive [10] superlative [2]
n
(Linguistics / Grammar) the comparative form of an adjective
comparatively adv
comparativeness n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | comparative - the comparative form of an adjective or adverb; "`faster' is the comparative of the adjective `fast'"; "`less famous' is the comparative degree of the adjective `famous'"; "`more surely' is the comparative of the adverb `surely'" adjective - a word that expresses an attribute of something adverb - a word that modifies something other than a noun better - (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another; "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din"; "a better coat"; "a better type of car"; "a suit with a better fit"; "a better chance of success"; "produced a better mousetrap"; "she's better in math than in history" worse - (comparative of `bad') inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability; "this road is worse than the first one we took"; "the road is in worse shape than it was"; "she was accused of worse things than cheating and lying" better - (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness; "her health is better now"; "I feel better" more, more than - (comparative of `much' used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree; "more land"; "more support"; "more rain fell"; "more than a gallon" less - (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree; "of less importance"; "less time to spend with the family"; "a shower uses less water"; "less than three years old" more - (comparative of `many' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning greater in number; "a hall with more seats"; "we have no more bananas"; "more than one" fewer - (comparative of `few' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of; "fewer birds came this year"; "the birds are fewer this year"; "fewer trains were late" worse - (comparative of `ill') in a less effective or successful or desirable manner; "he did worse on the second exam" |
| Adj. | 1. | comparative - relating to or based on or involving comparison; "comparative linguistics" |
| 2. | comparative - estimated by comparison; not absolute or complete; "a relative stranger" |
comparative
adjective relative, qualified, by comparison, approximate The task was accomplished with comparative ease.
Translations
comparative [kəmˈpærətɪv]
A. ADJ
1. (= relative) → relativo
before becoming famous she had lived in comparative obscurity → había vivido en relativa oscuridad antes de hacerse famosa
before becoming famous she had lived in comparative obscurity → había vivido en relativa oscuridad antes de hacerse famosa
2. [study] → comparativo, comparado
3. (Gram) → comparativo
B. N (Gram) → comparativo m
C. CPD comparative literature N → literatura f comparada
comparative [kəmˈpærətɪv] adj
[study] → comparatif/ive
(= relative) [safety, peace] → relatif/ive
a comparative stranger
She is a comparative stranger → Je la connais relativement peu.
a comparative stranger
She is a comparative stranger → Je la connais relativement peu.
comparative
adj
religion, philology etc → vergleichend; comparative literature → vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft, Komparatistik f
the comparative form (Gram) → der Komparativ, die erste Steigerungsstufe
n (Gram) → Komparativ m
comparative [kəmˈpærətɪv]
comparative [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
she's a comparative stranger → la conosco relativamente poco
2. n (Gram) → comparativo
comparative [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
she's a comparative stranger → la conosco relativamente poco
2. n (Gram) → comparativo
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