Com*pare" (?), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. Compared (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Comparing.] [L. comparare, fr.
compar like or equal to another; com- + par
equal: cf. F. comparer. See Pair, Peer an
equal, and cf. Compeer.] 1. To
examine the character or qualities of, as of two or more persons
or things, for the purpose of discovering their resemblances or
differences; to bring into comparison; to regard with
discriminating attention.
Compare dead happiness with living woe.
Shak.
The place he found beyond expression bright,
Compared with aught on earth.
Milton.
Compare our faces and be judge
yourself.
Shak.
To compare great things with small.
Milton.
2. To represent as similar, for the
purpose of illustration; to liken.
Solon compared the people unto the sea, and
orators and counselors to the winds; for that the sea would be
calm and quiet if the winds did not trouble it.
Bacon.
3. (Gram.) To inflect according to
the degrees of comparison; to state positive, comparative, and
superlative forms of; as, most adjectives of one syllable are
compared by affixing "- er" and "-est" to the positive
form; as, black, blacker, blackest; those of
more than one syllable are usually compared by prefixing
"more" and "most", or "less" and "least", to the positive; as,
beautiful, more beautiful, most
beautiful.
Syn. -- To Compare, Compare with,
Compare to. Things are compared with each other in
order to learn their relative value or excellence. Thus we
compare Cicero with Demosthenes, for the sake of deciding
which was the greater orator. One thing is compared to
another because of a real or fanciful likeness or similarity
which exists between them. Thus it has been common to compare the
eloquence of Demosthenes to a thunderbolt, on account of
its force, and the eloquence of Cicero to a conflagration,
on account of its splendor. Burke compares the parks of London
to the lungs of the human body.
Com*pare" (?), v. i.
1. To be like or equal; to admit, or be
worthy of, comparison; as, his later work does not compare
with his earlier.
I should compare with him in
excellence.
Shak.
2. To vie; to assume a likeness or
equality.
Shall pack horses . . . compare with
Cæsars?
Shak.
Com*pare", n. 1.
Comparison. [Archaic]
His mighty champion, strong beyond
compare.
Milton.
Their small galleys may not hold
compare
With our tall ships.
Waller.
2. Illustration by comparison;
simile. [Obs.]
Rhymes full of protest, of oath, and big
compare.
Shak.
Beyond compare. See Beyond
comparison, under Comparison.
Com*pare", v. t. [L.
comparare to prepare, procure; com- +
parare. See Prepare, Parade.] To get;
to procure; to obtain; to acquire [Obs.]
To fill his bags, and richesse to
compare.
Spenser.
