COMPARE

I. verb (~d; comparing) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ~r, from Latin comparare to couple, ~, from compar like, from com- + par equal Date: 14th century transitive verb to represent as similar ; liken , 2. to examine the character or qualities of especially in order to discover resemblances or differences , to view in relation to , to inflect or modify (an adjective or adverb) according to the degrees of comparison, intransitive verb to bear being ~d , to make comparisons, to be equal or alike , Synonyms: see: ~ II. noun Date: 1589 the possibility of comparing