comparable, a.
(ˈkɒmpərəb(ə)l)
[a. F. comparable, ad. L. comparābil-is, f. comparā-re to compare: see -ble.]
1. Able to be compared, capable of comparison (with).
| 1413 Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle ii. lviii. (1859) 56 Bytwene the and me this maner of lykenes is not comparable. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 495 b, Many..in all respectes comparable with you. 1636 Healey Theophrastus, To Rdr., The French is..yet in no degree comparable with the learned languages. 1870 Bowen Logic iv. 64 The Marks..by means of which it is comparable..with other things. 1881 Lockyer in Nature No. 614. 324 In this way we insure a considerable number of absolutely comparable observations. |
2. Worthy of comparison; proper, or fit to be compared; to be compared (to).
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 388/1 None comparable to hyr in wytte and wysdom. c 1510 More Picus Wks. 27 Thou shalt no pleasure comparable finde To thinwarde gladnes of a vertuous minde. 1667 H. More Disc. Faith (1713) 584 No Tradition can be of any comparable Authority to this. 1716–8 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. xxxviii. 154 Some other mosques..not comparable in point of magnificence to this. 1856 P. E. Dove Logic Chr. Faith, v. i. 301 This Holy Being has no comparable antagonist. |
Hence ˈcomparableness.
| 1731 in Bailey; whence in mod. Dicts. |