from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Comparative \Com*par"a*tive\, a. [L. comparativus: cf. F.
comparatif.]
1. Of or pertaining to comparison. "The comparative faculty."
--Glanvill.
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2. Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the
comparative sciences; the comparative anatomy.
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3. Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or
absolute, as compared with another thing or state.
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The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.
--Whewell.
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The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to
the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend
to the top. --Bentley.
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4. (Gram.) Expressing a degree greater or less than the
positive degree of the quality denoted by an adjective or
adverb. The comparative degree is formed from the positive
by the use of -er, more, or less; as, brighter, more
bright, or less bright.
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{Comparative sciences}, those which are based on a
comprehensive comparison of the range of objects or facts
in any branch or department, and which aim to study out
and treat of the fundamental laws or systems of relation
pervading them; as, {comparative anatomy}, {comparative
physiology}, {comparative philology}.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Anatomy \A*nat"o*my\, n.; pl. {Anatomies}. [F. anatomie, L.
anatomia, Gr. ? dissection, fr. ? to cut up; ? + ? to cut.]
1. The art of dissecting, or artificially separating the
different parts of any organized body, to discover their
situation, structure, and economy; dissection.
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2. The science which treats of the structure of organic
bodies; anatomical structure or organization.
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Let the muscles be well inserted and bound together,
according to the knowledge of them which is given us
by anatomy. --Dryden.
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Note: "Animal anatomy" is sometimes called {zomy}; "vegetable
anatomy," {phytotomy}; "human anatomy," {anthropotomy}.
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{Comparative anatomy} compares the structure of different
kinds and classes of animals.
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3. A treatise or book on anatomy.
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4. The act of dividing anything, corporeal or intellectual,
for the purpose of examining its parts; analysis; as, the
anatomy of a discourse.
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5. A skeleton; anything anatomized or dissected, or which has
the appearance of being so.
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The anatomy of a little child, representing all
parts thereof, is accounted a greater rarity than
the skeleton of a man in full stature. --Fuller.
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They brought one Pinch, a hungry, lean-faced
villain,
A mere anatomy. --Shak.
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