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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

COMPARE, v.t.
1. To set or bring things together in fact or in contemplation, and to examine the relations they bear to each other, with a view to ascertain their agreement or disagreement; as, to compare two pieces of cloth, two tables, or coins; to compare reasons and arguments; to compare pleasure with pain.
in comparing movable things, it is customary to bring them together, for examination. In comparing thins immovable or remote, and abstract ideas, we bring them together in the mind, as far as we are able, and consider them in connection. Comparison therefore is really collation, or it includes it.
2. To liken; to represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration.
Solon compared the people to the sea, and orators and counselors to the winds; for that the sea would be calm and quiet, it the winds did not trouble it.
In this sense compare is followed by to.
3. To examine the relations of thins to each other, with a view to discover their relative proportions, quantities or qualities; as, to compare two kingdoms, or two mountains with each other; to compare the number ten with fifteen; to compare ice with crystal; to compare a clown with a dancing master or a dandy.
In this sense compare is followed by with.
4. In grammar, to form an adjective in the degrees of comparison; as blackish, black, blacker, blackest.
5. To get; to procure; to obtain; as in Latin.
COMPARE, v.i.
1. To hold comparison; to be like or equal.
2. Simile; similitude; illustration by comparison.
[This noun is in use, but cannot be considered as elegant.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: qualities that are comparable; "no comparison between the two books"; "beyond compare" [syn: comparison, compare, equivalence, comparability] v
1: examine and note the similarities or differences of; "John compared his haircut to his friend's"; "We compared notes after we had both seen the movie"
2: be comparable; "This car does not compare with our line of Mercedes"
3: consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous; "We can compare the Han dynasty to the Romans"; "You cannot equate success in financial matters with greed" [syn: compare, liken, equate]
4: to form the comparative or superlative form on an adjective or adverb

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (compared; comparing) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French comparer, from Latin comparare to couple, compare, from compar like, from com- + par equal Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to represent as similar ; liken <shall I compare thee to a summer's day? — Shakespeare> 2. a. to examine the character or qualities of especially in order to discover resemblances or differences <compare your responses with the answers> b. to view in relation to <tall compared to me> <easy compared with the last test> 3. to inflect or modify (an adjective or adverb) according to the degrees of comparison intransitive verb 1. to bear being compared <the two don't even begin to compare> 2. to make comparisons 3. to be equal or alike <nothing compares to you> Synonyms: compare, contrast, collate mean to set side by side in order to show differences and likenesses. compare implies an aim of showing relative values or excellences by bringing out characteristic qualities whether similar or divergent <compared the convention facilities of the two cities>. contrast implies an emphasis on differences <contrasted the computerized system with the old filing cards>. collate implies minute and critical inspection in order to note points of agreement or divergence <data from districts around the country will be collated>. II. noun Date: 1589 the possibility of comparing <beauty beyond compare>; also something with which to be compared <a city without compare>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 tr. (usu. foll. by to) express similarities in; liken (compared the landscape to a painting). 2 tr. (often foll. by to, with) estimate the similarity or dissimilarity of; assess the relation between (compared radio with television; that lacks quality compared to this). Usage: In current use to and with are generally interchangeable, but with often implies a greater element of formal analysis, as in compared my account with yours. 3 intr. (often foll. by with) bear comparison (compares favourably with the rest). 4 intr. (often foll. by with) be equal or equivalent to. 5 tr. Gram. form the comparative and superlative degrees of (an adjective or an adverb). --n. literary comparison (beyond compare; without compare; has no compare). Phrases and idioms: compare notes exchange ideas or opinions. Etymology: ME f. OF comparer f. L comparare (as COM-, parare f. par equal)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Compare Com*pare", v. i. 1. To be like or equal; to admit, or be worthy of, comparison; as, his later work does not compare with his earlier. I should compare with him in excellence. --Shak. 2. To vie; to assume a likeness or equality. Shall pack horses . . . compare with C[ae]sars? --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Compare Com*pare", n. 1. Comparison. [Archaic] His mighty champion, strong beyond compare. --Milton. Their small galleys may not hold compare With our tall ships. --Waller. 2. Illustration by comparison; simile. [Obs.] Rhymes full of protest, of oath, and big compare. --Shak. Beyond compare. See Beyond comparison, under Comparison.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Compare Com*pare", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compared; p. pr. & vb. n. Comparing.] [L. comparare, fr. compar like or equal to another; com- + par equal: cf. F. comparer. See Pair, Peer an equal, and cf. Compeer.] 1. To examine the character or qualities of, as of two or more persons or things, for the purpose of discovering their resemblances or differences; to bring into comparison; to regard with discriminating attention. Compare dead happiness with living woe. --Shak. The place he found beyond expression bright, Compared with aught on earth. --Milton. Compare our faces and be judge yourself. --Shak. To compare great things with small. --Milton. 2. To represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration; to liken. Solon compared the people unto the sea, and orators and counselors to the winds; for that the sea would be calm and quiet if the winds did not trouble it. --Bacon. 3. (Gram.) To inflect according to the degrees of comparison; to state positive, comparative, and superlative forms of; as, most adjectives of one syllable are compared by affixing ``- er'' and ``-est'' to the positive form; as, black, blacker, blackest; those of more than one syllable are usually compared by prefixing ``more'' and ``most'', or ``less'' and ``least'', to the positive; as, beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful. Syn: To Compare, Compare with, Compare to. Usage: Things are compared with each other in order to learn their relative value or excellence. Thus we compare Cicero with Demosthenes, for the sake of deciding which was the greater orator. One thing is compared to another because of a real or fanciful likeness or similarity which exists between them. Thus it has been common to compare the eloquence of Demosthenes to a thunderbolt, on account of its force, and the eloquence of Cicero to a conflagration, on account of its splendor. Burke compares the parks of London to the lungs of the human body.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Compare Com*pare", v. t. [L. comparare to prepare, procure; com- + parare. See Prepare, Parade.] To get; to procure; to obtain; to acquire [Obs.] To fill his bags, and richesse to compare. --Spenser.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(compares, comparing, compared) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. When you compare things, you consider them and discover the differences or similarities between them. Compare the two illustrations in Fig 60... Was it fair to compare independent schools with state schools?... Note how smooth the skin of the upper arm is, then compare it to the skin on the elbow. to compare notes: see note VERB: V pl-n, V n with n, V n to n 2. If you compare one person or thing to another, you say that they are like the other person or thing. Some commentators compared his work to that of James Joyce... I can only compare the experience to falling in love. = liken VERB: V n to/with n/-ing, V n to/with n/-ing 3. If one thing compares favourably with another, it is better than the other thing. If it compares unfavourably, it is worse than the other thing. Our road safety record compares favourably with that of other European countries... How do the two techniques compare in terms of application? V-RECIP: V adv with n, pl-n V adv 4. If you say that something does not compare with something else, you mean that it is much worse. The flowers here do not compare with those at home... VERB: usu with neg, V with n 5. see also compared

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kom-par' (damah, mashal, [`arakh]; paraballo, sugkrino): "Compare" is the translation of damah, "to be like" (So 1:9); of mashal, "to liken," "compare" (Isa 46:5); of `arakh, "to set in array," "compare" (Ps 89:6; Isa 40:18); of shawah, "to be equal" (Pr 3:15; 8:11).

In the New Testament sugkrino, "to judge" or "sift together," is translated "comparing," "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1Co 2:13 the English Revised Version), the American Standard Revised Version "combining" ("adapting the discourse to the subject," Thayer), the Revised Version, margin "interpreting spiritual things to spiritual (men)."

W. L. Walker

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Collate (followed by with), bring into comparison, estimate relatively. 2. Liken (followed by to), declare similar, represent as resembling. II. v. n. Bear a comparison, admit of comparison, present a resemblance. III. n. (Poetical.) Comparison.

Moby Thesaurus

admit of comparison, analogize, ape, appear like, approach, approximate, assimilate, associate, balance, be commensurable, be comparable, be like, be redolent of, bear resemblance, bracket, bring into analogy, bring into comparison, bring to mind, call to mind, call up, collate, come close, come near, come up to, compare and contrast, compare to, compare with, compete with, confront, consider, contemplate, contrast, copy, correlate, correspond, counterfeit, counterpose, draw a comparison, draw a parallel, equal, evoke, examine, favor, follow, imitate, inspect, juxtapose, liken, liken to, look like, match, match up with, measure against, measure up to, metaphorize, mimic, mirror, near, nearly reproduce, not compare with, not tell apart, observe, oppose, paragon, parallel, partake of, place against, ponder, refer, relate, remind one of, resemble, rival, run a comparison, savor of, scan, scrutinize, seem like, set in contrast, set in opposition, set off against, set over against, similize, simulate, size up, smack of, sound like, stack up with, study, suggest, take after, touch, vie, vie with, view together, weigh, weigh against