COMPARISON.
155. Comparison is an inflection not possessed by nouns and pronouns: it belongs to adjectives and adverbs.
Meaning of comparison.
When we place two objects side by side, we notice some differences between them as to size, weight, color, etc. Thus, it is said that a cow is larger than a sheep, gold is heavier than iron, a sapphire is bluer than the sky. All these have certain qualities; and when we compare the objects, we do so by means of their qualities,—cow and sheep by the quality of largeness, or size; gold and iron by the quality of heaviness, or weight, etc.,—but not the same degree, or amount, of the quality.
The degrees belong to any beings or ideas that may be known or conceived of as possessing quality; as, "untamed thought, great, giant-like, enormous;" "the commonest speech;" "It is a nobler valor;" "the largest soul."
Also words of quantity may be compared: for example, "more matter, with less wit;" "no fewer than a hundred."
Words that cannot be compared.
156. There are some descriptive words whose meaning is such as not to admit of comparison; for example,—
His company became very agreeable to the brave old professor of arms, whose favorite pupil he was.—Thackeray.
A main difference betwixt men is, whether they attend their own affair or not.—Emerson