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comparatio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word comparatio

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comparatio1 preparation

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔm.paˈraː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kom.paˈrat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

comparātiō f (genitive comparātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

This comparātiō is formed from comparō “to prepare”, itself from con- and parō, with the suffix -tiō.[2][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero uses it of preparing a defence and, in the speech for Pompey's command, of the preparation of a new war.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Besides preparation it meant procuring or obtaining, as Cicero's comparātiō testium “getting up witnesses” and Livy's procuring of poison.[2][5] Vitruvius uses it of building and of the materials of a wall.[2] In Trajan's letters and the jurists it is the purchase of grain or land, and in Medieval Latin it chiefly meant acquisition by purchase.[2][5][6]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero, of preparing for a new war.[2][4]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius, of building.[2]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy, of procuring poison.[2][3]
  • before 223 AD – Ulpian, of the purchase of land.[2][5]
  • c. 800 – Carolingian charters, of property acquired by purchase.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Preparation, making ready.[2][3]
  2. Procuring, obtaining, provision.[2][5]
  3. Building, construction, (plural) materials.[2]
  4. (Late and Medieval Latin) Purchase, acquisition.[5][6]

comparatio2 comparison

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Rhetorica ad Herennium

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔm.paˈraː.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kom.paˈrat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

comparātiō f (genitive comparātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from comparō “to match, compare” with the suffix -tiō, and is also spelled ⟨conp-⟩.[2][1][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL says it is read from the Rhetorica ad Herennium, and the OLD's earliest citation for a rhetorical argument is from it.[7][2] Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.[8]

Semantic evolution

It meant a comparison, a weighing of relative merits, and in rhetoric an argument from the more probable of two actions, or a plea of justification by a greater good.[2] Comparātiōne or in comparātiōnem meant in comparison with, as in Livy.[2] In Quintilian it meant the comparative degree, and in Cicero a relationship of position, and comparātiō prō portiōne proportion.[2] The TLL notes it is rare in the poets.[7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant comparison.[9] British Medieval Latin used it of comparison in grammar and of a simile.[10] Through Old French comparaison it gave English comparison in the mid-14th century.[11]

Timeline

  • 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of a rhetorical argument.[2][8]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of proportion.[2][8]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of the comparative.[2][8]
  • mid-14th century – English comparison is recorded.[11]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Comparison, comparātiōne, in comparison with.[2]
  2. (rhetoric) An argument from the more probable.[2]
  3. (grammar) The comparative degree.[2]
  4. Relationship; proportion.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  7. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  8. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  9. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  10. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  11. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Comparatio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/comparatio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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