From Middle English comparatif, from Middle French comparatif, from Latin comparātīvus, equivalent to comparātus, from comparāre ("to compare") + -ive, from Latin -īvus.

• (RP) IPA: /kəmˈpæɹ.ə.tɪv/
  • (nMmmm) IPA: /kəmˈpæɹ.ə.tɪv/
  • (Mmmm) IPA: /kəmˈpɛɹ.ə.tɪv/

comparative

1. Of or relating to comparison.
   • 1773, James Burnett, Of the Origin and Progress of Language:

     that kind of animals that have the comparative faculty, by which they compare things together, deliberate and resolve

2. Using comparison as a method of study, or founded on something using it.

   comparative anatomy

3. Approximated by comparison; relative.
   • 1837, William Whewell, History of the Inductive Sciences:

     The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.

   • 1692, Richard Bentley, A Confutation of Atheism:

     This bubble, […] by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that encloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top.

4. (obsolete) Comparable; bearing comparison.
   • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, II.137:

     And need he had of slumber yet, for none / Had suffered more—his hardships were comparative / To those related in my grand-dad's Narrative.

• French: comparatif
• German: vergleichend
• Italian: comparativo
• Portuguese: comparativo
• Russian: сравни́тельный
• Spanish: comparativo

• French: comparatif
• German: komparativ
• Italian: comparativo
• Portuguese: comparativo
• Russian: сравни́тельный
• Spanish: comparativo

• German: verhältnismäßig, relativ
• Italian: comparativo
• Russian: относи́тельный
• Spanish: comparativo

comparative (plural comparatives)

1. (grammar) A construction showing a relative quality, in English usually formed by adding more or appending -er. For example, the comparative of green is greener; of evil, more evil.
2. (grammar) A word in the comparative form.
3. (mostly, in the plural) Data used to make a comparison.
4. (obsolete) An equal; a rival; a compeer.
   • c. 1608–1613, Nathan Field, John Fletcher, “Four Playes, or Morall Representations, in One”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC ↗, Act , (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     Gerrard ever was / His full comparative.

5. (obsolete) One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.
   • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene ii], line 67:

     Every beardless vain comparative.

• (grammar: degree) comparative degree

• French: comparatif
• German: Höherstufe, Mehrstufe, Komparativ
• Italian: comparativo
• Portuguese: grau comparativo, comparativo
• Russian: сравни́тельная сте́пень
• Spanish: comparativo

• French: comparatif
• German: Komparativ
• Italian: comparativo
• Portuguese: comparativo
• Spanish: comparativo

• absolute comparative
• degrees of comparison
• superlative