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