英文字典中文字典51ZiDian.com

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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.
[1913 Webster]

As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human
beings can bear comparison with them. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]

The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old
Testament afford many interesting points of
comparison. --Trench.
[1913 Webster]

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.
[1913 Webster]

3. That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as
being equal or like; illustration; similitude.
[1913 Webster]

Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with
what comparison shall we compare it? --Mark iv. 30.
[1913 Webster]

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.
[1913 Webster]

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.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Phren.) The faculty of the reflective group which is
supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts.
[1913 Webster]

{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.
[1913 Webster]


Comparison \Com*par"i*son\, v. t.
To compare. [Obs.] --Wyclif.
[1913 Webster]