\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.

\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.

\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}.

\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.