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Comparative vs. Comparable

Comparative and Comparable Definitions

Comparative

Relating to, based on, or involving comparison.

Comparable

Admitting of comparison with another or others
“The satellite revolution is comparable to Gutenberg's invention of movable type” (Irvin Molotsky).

Comparative

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.

Comparable

Similar or equivalent
Pianists of comparable ability.

Comparative

Estimated by comparison; relative
A comparative newcomer.

Comparable

(often with to) Able to be compared (to).
An elephant is comparable in size to a double-decker bus.
You can't say that robbing a bank is like pickpocketing. The two are just not comparable.
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Comparative

(Grammar) Of, relating to, or being the intermediate degree of comparison of adjectives, as better, sweeter, or more wonderful, or adverbs, as more softly.

Comparable

(often with to) Similar (to); like.

Comparative

The comparative degree.

Comparable

(mathematics) Constituting a pair in a particular partial order.
Six and forty-two are comparable in the divides order, but six and nine are not.

Comparative

An adjective or adverb expressing the comparative degree.

Comparable

(grammar) Said of an adjective that has comparative and superlative forms.
"Big" is a comparable adjective, since it can take the forms "bigger" and "biggest"; but "unique" is not comparable, except in disputed, but common, usage.
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Comparative

Of or relating to comparison.

Comparable

Something suitable for comparison.

Comparative

Using comparison as a method of study, or founded on something using it.
Comparative anatomy

Comparable

Capable of being compared; worthy of comparison.
There is no blessing of life comparable to the enjoyment of a discreet and virtuous friend.

Comparative

Approximated by comparison; relative.

Comparable

Able to be compared or worthy of comparison
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Comparative

(obsolete) Comparable; bearing comparison.

Comparable

Conforming in every respect;
Boxes with corresponding dimensions
The like period of the preceding year

Comparative

(grammar) A construction showing a relative quality, in English usually formed by adding more or appending -er. For example, the comparative of green is greener; of evil, more evil.

Comparative

(grammar) A word in the comparative form.

Comparative

Data used to make a comparison.

Comparative

(obsolete) An equal; a rival; a compeer.

Comparative

(obsolete) One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.

Comparative

Of or pertaining to comparison.

Comparative

Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the comparative sciences; the comparative anatomy.

Comparative

Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or absolute, as compared with another thing or state.
The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.
The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top.

Comparative

Expressing a degree greater or less than the positive degree of the quality denoted by an adjective or adverb. The comparative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -er, more, or less; as, brighter, more bright, or less bright.

Comparative

The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, the form by which the comparative degree is expressed; as, stronger, wiser, weaker, more stormy, less windy, are all comparatives.
In comparatives is expressed a relation of two; as in superlatives there is a relation of many.

Comparative

An equal; a rival; a compeer.
Gerard ever wasHis full comparative.

Comparative

One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.

Comparative

The comparative form of an adjective;
`better' is the comparative of `good'

Comparative

Relating to or based on or involving comparison;
Comparative linguistics

Comparative

Having significance only in relation to something else;
A comparative newcomer

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