comparison English · revision 4855

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1340|origins=la comparatio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /kəmˈpær.ɪ.sən/, US /kəmˈper.ɪ.sən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|comparisoun]], [[bor|fro|comparaison|alt=comparesoun, comparaison]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|comparātiō|t=a comparing]], a noun of action from comparāre “to make equal with, liken, pair, match”.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) It is related to [[compare]], [[par]] and [[pair]].^(NODE 1998)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The act of comparing or likening, and the capacity of being compared: 1340 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the mid-14th century in Etymonline, as “equal, match, resemblance”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Phrases such as ''without comparison'' and ''beyond all comparison'' are also from 1340.^(OED 1989) A simile in speech or writing is from 1382,^(OED 1989) and the act of noting similarities and differences from 1393.^(OED 1989) Etymonline dates putting two things together as equal to the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) In grammar, the comparison of adjectives and adverbs (as in big, bigger, biggest) is a later technical sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''Bear comparison with'' is from 1845.^(OED 1989) The verb comparison, to compare, was used in Middle English (about 1325) but is obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1325 – verb, to liken.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1340 – the act of comparing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – a simile.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1393 – noting similarities and differences.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1845 – ''bear comparison with''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of comparing two or more things to find their similarities and differences.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A statement or judgement that compares things.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[similarity|alt=Similarity]], or the possibility of being compared: ''there's no comparison''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(grammar)'' The forms of an [[adjective]] or adverb that show degree, such as the positive, comparative and superlative.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[intercomparison]]

+ * [[recomparison]]

+ * [[comparison-shop]]

+ * [[comparison shopper]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[comparable]]

+ * [[comparative]]

+ * [[comparator]]

+ * [[compare]]

+ * [[par]]

+ * [[pair]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}