comparative
UK: kəmˈpærətɪv | US: kəmˈpærətɪv
adj. relating to comparison; measured or judged by comparison
adj. (grammar) denoting the intermediate degree of comparison (e.g., "better," "faster")
n. (grammar) the comparative form of an adjective or adverb
The word "comparative" stems from the Latin "comparativus," derived from "comparare" (com-<together> + parare<to prepare, measure>). Originally, it meant "to pair or match for evaluation." Over time, it evolved into the grammatical sense of comparing degrees (e.g., "taller"). The suffix "-ative" marks it as an adjective, solidifying its role in describing relational judgment.
The study used a comparative approach to analyze economic growth.
"Smarter" is the comparative form of the adjective "smart."
She chose the comparative method for her research to highlight differences.
In linguistics, comparatives often end in "-er" or use "more."
His performance was evaluated on a comparative scale.