compar.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary

compar. stands for Comparative, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.

Marks the comparative form of an adjective or adverb, which compares two things, such as "taller," "better" or "more interesting." Dictionaries list irregular comparatives after the headword.

Example: good (adj.) compar. better, superl. best: "This plan is better than the last."

Usage notes

One-syllable adjectives usually take -er, while longer ones use "more"; two-syllable words vary ("happier," "more careful"). Double comparatives like "more better" are nonstandard today, though Shakespeare wrote "more nearer." Some dictionaries use comp. for the same label.

Related abbreviations

More grammar and dictionary abbreviations

• attrib. – Attributive
• Austral. – Australian
• aux. – Auxiliary (verb)
• BrE – British English
• Brit. – British
• colloq. – Colloquial
• conj. – Conjunction
• contr. – Contraction
• dat. – Dative
• derog. – Derogatory
• det. – Determiner
• dial. – Dialect

See all 93 grammar and dictionary abbreviations →

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