\Com*par"i*son\ (? or ?), n. [F. comparaison, L.
comparatio. See 1st {Compare}.]
1. The act of comparing; an examination of two or more
   objects with the view of discovering the resemblances or
   differences; relative estimate.
         As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human
         beings can bear comparison with them. --Macaulay.
         The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old
         Testament afford many interesting points of
         comparison.                           --Trench.
2. The state of being compared; a relative estimate; also, a
   state, quality, or relation, admitting of being compared;
   as, to bring a thing into comparison with another; there
   is no comparison between them.
3. That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as
   being equal or like; illustration; similitude.
         Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with
         what comparison shall we compare it?  --Mark iv. 30.
4. (Gram.) The modification, by inflection or otherwise,
   which the adjective and adverb undergo to denote degrees
   of quality or quantity; as, little, less, least, are
   examples of comparison.
5. (Rhet.) A figure by which one person or thing is compared
   to another, or the two are considered with regard to some
   property or quality, which is common to them both; e.g.,
   the lake sparkled like a jewel.
6. (Phren.) The faculty of the reflective group which is
   supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts.
{Beyond comparison}, so far superior as to have no likeness,
   or so as to make comparison needless.
{In comparison of}, {In comparison with}, as compared with;
   in proportion to. [Archaic] ``So miserably unpeopled in
   comparison of what it once was.'' --Addison.
{Comparison of hands} (Law), a mode of proving or disproving
   the genuineness of a signature or writing by comparing it
   with another proved or admitted to be genuine, in order to
   ascertain whether both were written by the same person.
   --Bouvier. --Burrill.

\Com*par"i*son\, v. t.
To compare. [Obs.] --Wyclif.