of or pertaining to comparison.

proceeding by, founded on, or using comparison as a method of study

comparative anatomy.

estimated by comparison; not positive or absolute; relative

a comparative newcomer in politics; to live in comparative luxury.

Grammar . being, noting, or pertaining to the intermediate degree of the comparison of adjectives, as better and more beautiful, the comparative forms of good and beautiful, and of adverbs, as nearer and more carefully, the comparative forms of near and carefully. Compare positive ( def. 20 ) , superlative ( def. 2 ) .

the comparative degree.

a form in the comparative.

adjective

unequal , unlike

adjective

allusive , analogous , approaching , by comparison , comparable , conditional , connected , contingent , contrastive , correlative , corresponding , equivalent , in proportion , like , matching , metaphorical , near , not absolute , not positive , parallel , provisional , qualified , related , relative , restricted , rivaling , similar , vying , with reservationnotes:positive is the ordinary form of a word , with comparative conveying the sense of greater intensity of the adjective and superlative reflecting the greatest intensity of the adjective , approximate , equal , rival , than