compare English · revision 5149

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1375|origins=la comparare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|comparen]], [[bor|fro|comparer]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|comparāre|t=to pair, match, liken]], from compār “like, equal”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from com- “with” and pār “equal”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[pair]], [[par]], [[peer]] and [[compeer]], a doublet.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To represent as similar, to liken: 1375 in the OED and Barnhart, in John Barbour's The Bruce.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline has “to regard as equal” about 1400.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To note the similarities and differences of two things is from 1509 in the OED, about 1500 in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The intransitive “to bear comparison” is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline) In grammar, to form the comparative and superlative of an adjective is from 1612.^(OED 1989) ''Compare notes'' is from 1708.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun, comparison, is from 1589, chiefly in ''beyond compare'';^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) the phrase ''without compare'' may have been influenced by [[compeer]] “equal, rival”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1375 – to liken.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1509 – to examine for differences.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1589 – noun, ''beyond compare''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1612 – in grammar.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1708 – ''compare notes''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To examine things in order to see how they are similar or different.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To say that something is like something else; to [[liken]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To be as good as something else: ''nothing compares with it''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(grammar)'' To give the comparative and superlative forms of an adjective or adverb.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Comparison, as in ''beyond compare''.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[comparer]]

+ * [[uncompared]]

+ * [[intercompare]]

+ * [[recompare]]

+ * [[comparable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[comparative]]

+ * [[comparison]]

+ * [[cf]]

+ * [[pair]]

+ * [[par]]

+ * [[peer]]

+ * [[compeer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}