COMPARISON
155. Comparison is an inflection not possessed by nouns and
pronouns: it belongs to adjectives and adverbs.
[Sidenote: _Meaning of comparison._]
When we place two objects side by side, we notice some differences
between them as to size, weight, color, etc. Thus, it is said that a
cow is _larger_ than a sheep, gold is _heavier_ than iron, a sapphire
is _bluer_ than the sky. All these have certain qualities; and when we
compare the objects, we do so by means of their qualities,--cow and
sheep by the quality of largeness, or size; gold and iron by the
quality of heaviness, or weight, etc.,--but not the same degree, or
amount, of the quality.
The degrees belong to any beings or ideas that may be known or
conceived of as possessing quality; as, "untamed thought, great,
giant-like, enormous;" "the commonest speech;" "It is a nobler valor;"
"the largest soul."
Also words of quantity may be compared: for example, "more matter,
with less wit;" "no fewer than a hundred."
[Sidenote: _Words that cannot be compared._]
156. There are some descriptive words whose meaning is such as not
to admit of comparison; for example,--
His company became very agreeable to the brave old professor of
arms, whose _favorite_ pupil he was.--THACKERAY.
A _main_ difference betwixt men is, whether they attend their own
affair or not.--EMERSON
It was his business to administer the law in its _final_ and
closest application to the offender--HAWTHORNE.
Freedom is a _perpetual, organic, universal_ institution, in
harmony with the Constitution of the United States.--SEWARD.
So with the words _sole_, _sufficient_, _infinite_, _immemorial_,
_indefatigable_, _indomitable_, _supreme_, and many others.
It is true that words of comparison are sometimes prefixed to them,
but, strictly considered, they are not compared.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
157. Comparison means the changes that words undergo to express
degrees in quality, or amounts in quantity.
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