comparative Hear it!

comparative definition

com·para·tive (kəm parə tiv)

adjective

  1. that compares; involving comparison as a method, esp. in a branch of study comparative linguistics
  2. estimated by comparison with something else; relative a comparative success
  3. Gram. designating or of the second degree of comparison of adjectives and adverbs; expressing a greater degree of a quality or attribute than that expressed in the positive degree: usually indicated by the suffix -er (harder) or by the use of more with the positive form (more honest)

Etymology: ME < L comparativus

noun

  1. Obsolete a rival
  2. Gram.
    1. the comparative degree
    2. a word or form in this degree

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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