Definition of "comparative"

that kind of animals that have the comparative faculty, by which they compare things together, deliberate and resolve

1773, James Burnett, Of the Origin and Progress of Language

After all, it is undeniable that the B.R. standard coach scored highly in comparative trials with other European railway vehicles on the Continent a few years ago, so that B.R. civil engineers must share responsibility for any defects in its behaviour over here.

1960 December, “Talking of Trains: The riding of B.R. coaches”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 705–706

The Olympics, the weather and a comparative lack of heavyweight clashes so far this season have been cited as reasons for the drop in viewers.

2016 October 24, Owen Gibson, “Is the unthinkable happening – are people finally switching the football off?”, in The Guardian‎, London

The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.

1837, William Whewell, History of the Inductive Sciences

This bubble, […] by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that encloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top.

1692, Richard Bentley, A Confutation of Atheism

And need he had of slumber yet, for none / Had suffered more—his hardships were comparative / To those related in my grand-dad's Narrative.

1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, II.137

Investment ratios are positive. Comparative or trend data are required to draw final conclusions. The absence of comparatives and trend data constrains the conclusions.

2010, Barry Smith, Introductory Financial Accounting and Reporting, page 171

Gerrard ever was / His full comparative.

c. 1608–1613, Nathan Field, John Fletcher, “Fovr Playes, or Morall Representations, in One”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, Act , (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

Every beardless vain comparative.

c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene ii], line 67