Compare, v. t. [L.comparare, fr. compar like or equal to another; com- + par equal: cf. F. comparer. See Pair, Peer an equal, and cf. Compeer.].

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. [1913 Webster]
"Compare dead happiness with living woe." [1913 Webster]

"The place he found beyond expression bright,
Compared with aught on earth." [1913 Webster]

"Compare our faces and be judge yourself." [1913 Webster]

"To compare great things with small." [1913 Webster]
To represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration; to liken. [1913 Webster]
"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." [1913 Webster]
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.

Compare, v. i.

To be like or equal; to admit, or be worthy of, comparison; as, his later work does not compare with his earlier. [1913 Webster]
"I should compare with him in excellence." [1913 Webster]
To vie; to assume a likeness or equality. [1913 Webster]
"Shall pack horses . . . compare with Cæsars?" [1913 Webster]

Compare, n.

Comparison. [1913 Webster]
"His mighty champion, strong beyond compare." [1913 Webster]

"Their small galleys may not hold compare
With our tall ships." [1913 Webster]
Illustration by comparison; simile. [1913 Webster]
"Rhymes full of protest, of oath, and big compare." [1913 Webster]

Beyond compare. See Beyond comparison, under Comparison.

Compare, v. t. [L. comparare to prepare, procure; com- + parare. See Prepare, Parade.].

To get; to procure; to obtain; to acquire [1913 Webster]

"To fill his bags, and richesse to compare." [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Compare, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. (usu. foll. by to) express similarities in; liken (compared the landscape to a painting).
2 tr. (often foll. by to, with) estimate the similarity or dissimilarity of; assess the relation between (compared radio with television; that lacks quality compared to this).

Idiom

compare notes exchange ideas or opinions.

Usage

In current use to and with are generally interchangeable, but with often implies a greater element of formal analysis, as in compared my account with yours.
3 intr. (often foll. by with) bear comparison (compares favourably with the rest).
4 intr. (often foll. by with) be equal or equivalent to.
5 tr. Gram. form the comparative and superlative degrees of (an adjective or an adverb).
--n. literary comparison (beyond compare; without compare; has no compare).

Etymology

ME f. OF comparer f. L comparare (as COM-, parare f. par equal)

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THESAURUS

Compare

admit of comparison, analogize, ape, appear like, approach, approximate, assimilate, associate, balance, be commensurable, be comparable, be like, be redolent of, bear resemblance, bracket, bring into analogy, bring into comparison, bring to mind, call to mind, call up, collate, come close, come near, come up to, compare and contrast, compare to, compare with, compete with, confront, consider, contemplate, contrast, copy, correlate, correspond, counterfeit, counterpose, draw a comparison, draw a parallel, equal, evoke, examine, favor, follow, imitate, inspect, juxtapose, liken, liken to, look like, match, match up with, measure against, measure up to, metaphorize, mimic, mirror, near, nearly reproduce, not compare with, not tell apart, observe, oppose, paragon, parallel, partake of, place against, ponder, refer, relate, remind one of, resemble, rival, run a comparison, savor of, scan, scrutinize, seem like, set in contrast, set in opposition, set off against, set over against, similize, simulate, size up, smack of, sound like, stack up with, study, suggest, take after, touch, vie, vie with, view together, weigh, weigh against

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