Beyond comparison

Comparison \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.
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            As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human
            beings can bear comparison with them. --Macaulay.
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            The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old
            Testament afford many interesting points of
            comparison.                           --Trench.
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   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.
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   3. That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as
      being equal or like; illustration; similitude.
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            Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with
            what comparison shall we compare it?  --Mark iv. 30.
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   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.
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   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.
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   6. (Phren.) The faculty of the reflective group which is
      supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts.
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   {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.
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