comparison

n. [ F. comparaison, L. comparatio. See 1st Compare. ] 1. The act of comparing; an examination of two or more objects with the view of discovering the resemblances or differences; relative estimate. [ 1913 Webster ]

As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human beings can bear comparison with them. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old Testament afford many interesting points of comparison. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being compared; a relative estimate; also, a state, quality, or relation, admitting of being compared; as, to bring a thing into comparison with another; there is no comparison between them. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as being equal or like; illustration; similitude. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? Mark iv. 30. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Gram.) The modification, by inflection or otherwise, which the adjective and adverb undergo to denote degrees of quality or quantity; as, little, less, least, are examples of comparison. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Rhet.) A figure by which one person or thing is compared to another, or the two are considered with regard to some property or quality, which is common to them both; e.g., the lake sparkled like a jewel. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Phren.) The faculty of the reflective group which is supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beyond comparison, so far superior as to have no likeness, or so as to make comparison needless. --
In comparison of,
In comparison with, as compared with; in proportion to. [ Archaic ] “So miserably unpeopled in comparison of what it once was.” Addison. --
Comparison of hands (Law), a mode of proving or disproving the genuineness of a signature or writing by comparing it with another proved or admitted to be genuine, in order to ascertain whether both were written by the same person. Bouvier. Burrill.

[ 1913 Webster ]